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Where exactly it all went wrong for Cook County is a matter for great debate, some of which occurred in the meeting this afternoon led by finance committee chairman John Daley. Some commissioners and county officials chalked it up to the waste and poor judgment of other commissioners and county officials. Budget staff blamed Chicago’s professional sports teams, whose recent mediocre performances have led to diminished amusement tax revenues. Commissioner Mike Quigley, meanwhile, intimated that a few of his colleagues had wasted taxpayer money and everyone’s time by attending the “wild weekend in Washington” that is the annual convention of the National Association of Counties. Commissioner Jerry “Iceman” Butler, a soul music legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, challenged Quigley to “find me another song to sing.” When Joseph Moreno called for order, someone demanded to know what he wanted. “I’ll have two tacos and some rice and beans,” he said.
Somewhere in there was a very serious and thoroughly Orwellian conversation about the dismal state of the county’s public health care system. Last year’s budget slashed millions from health programs, and ever since health workers, analysts, and politicians have said the county’s indigent face long, dangerous waits for care from a greatly reduced and demoralized staff. Self-declared reformers on the board have blamed Stroger and his allies for not saving health funding by cutting fat. The Stroger group has cited the health care system in arguing for additional spending and tax hikes.
