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* Complaint names McHenry Co. state’s attorney
Bianchi said accusations that he was improperly reimbursed for office expenses were politically motivated.
“Anyone can write a letter to complain,” said Bianchi, who faces opposition in the GOP primary in February. “This is strictly a political move.”
Bianchi said he was outraged.
* Knox Co. board members not surprised Madigan won’t file charges against state’s attorney
* Clout Street: Hynes swipe at governor launches website on pay to play
* Website links campaign donations to contractors
* Contributions, contracts are traced by Comptroller’s website
* Comptroller’s new website highlights contracts, donors
* Bethany Jaeger: Comptroller to follow the money
* Opinion: Personal injury lawyer adopts stealth campaign
* First hearing on Cook Co. tax hikes tonight
* Downtown peak parking rate may increase to $1 an hour
* Chicago Public Radio: Cook Co. health officials talk money
* Daley defends decision to not name accused cops
* Daley rips aldermen who demand names of police
* Kadner: 28 year old woman to run for Cook Co. state’s attorney
* Cook Co. health chief wins praise for progress
Commissioner Joan Murphy even suggested the county spend more for an effective PR effort to spread the word about changes in the system — though the county repeatedly has been ripped for spending too much on PR.
Simon laid out ways he has cracked the whip on what was “the worst situation I personally have ever seen.” Employee overtime is down, he said, and so are waiting times for patients at clinics.
It’s not all rosy, of course. Hospital staff and contractors still aren’t collecting bills at nearly the rate they should. Hospital hires continue to draw scrutiny as being tinged by patronage, while Board President Todd Stroger wants to add hundreds of new jobs.
* Cook Co. weighs co-pay for jails, clinics
He said officials are concerned about a potential public relations backlash.
“It’s a tough one,” Simon said. “If you guys stand in our shoes and in the board’s shoes, the moment we do, say, $20 for a clinic visit … what will end up happening is you’re going to get patients that will say … ‘I can’t afford it,’ and then it will become a newspaper article.”
* Tribune Editorial: Fair trade, work for housing; more here
It has been more than a decade since federal welfare reform pushed the idea that citizens who receive the government’s help should be expected to help themselves through work or education requirements. There were predictions of dire consequences. But welfare reform proved to be a smashing success.
So, we think, will the CHA’s plans for tenants.
* Cabbies beg city to raise fares
* Chicago cabdrivers denied 24% fair hike
During a City Council hearing that dragged on for hours and adjourned without action, Consumer Services Commissioner Norma Reyes slammed the door on the increase on grounds it “does not correspond with the increase in driver expenses.”
“Their lease expenses have remained static. And gas prices have gone up and down, up and down, up and down. Now there’s a downward trend since it increased last summer. Based on that, I’m not supporting a fare increase,” Reyes said.
Reyes said she remains “sympathetic” to the plight of cabbies and vowed to consider innovative “formulas” to address fuel prices.
* Americorps volunteers to march on state capitol in annual parade
* Possible Silver Cross move puts Joliet, county at odds
In July, Silver Cross announced that it planned to build a $400 million, 289-bed hospital on 70 acres along Interstate 355 in New Lenox, about three miles east of the existing hospital.
Officials said the new hospital would be more modern and would better meet the region’s health care needs of the future.
Joliet officials argue the change would hurt the city and the county economies, citing several examples.
* Opinion: FOID rules are way around safety regulation
* Illinois to get high-tech driver’s licenses
* Chicago Public Radio: Sec. of State unveils new ID cards
* New driver’s licenses to have deliberate errors
* Illinois to issue new licenses
* State unveils new card aimed at combating fraud, ID theft
* State unveils new driver’s license and ID cards
“These changes in Illinois’ driver’s licenses and ID cards represent a very important and positive step on the path to improved card security for everyone,” Secretary of State Jesse White said during a Tuesday news conference. “I am confident that the new driver’s license and ID will work to prevent and detect attempts at fraud, protect ID information.”
Despite safeguards against fraud, counterfeiters have been able to reproduce current licenses and ID cards, White said.
* Child support bill becomes law
* Hospital planning board’s fate depends on task force
* Hospital Board review off to slow start
posted by Paul Richardson
Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 8:50 am
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Comptroller Dan Hynes “Open Book” user-friendly website that allows citizens to track political contributions made by companies that have state contracts. Doesn’t even begin to account for the monies exchanged under the table.
Comment by Give me a break! Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 8:59 am
Does Rod have any off-shore accounts?
Comment by Northside Bunker Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 9:01 am
Is McMahon Dupagian Irish for Madigan? I’d like ot see a side by side comparisson of qualifications these two had when running for their respective offices…no need to mention DNA or lineage.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 9:11 am
Megan McMahon? What a farce.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 9:27 am
“Joliet officials argue the change would hurt the city and the county economies, citing several examples.”
Oh, the city officials are full of baloney. Silver Cross isn’t moving very far, and they’ve already demonstrated that they’re going to continue to serve exactly the same poor communities. If the city was really concerned, they would have treated Silver Cross more fairly, rather than showing so much preference to their competitor across town–Provena St. Joe’s. You would think, that at the very least, the city could have acted on the open sewage that was flowing down the street.
“Illinois to get high-tech driver’s licenses”
As long as they don’t have an RFID chip in them–if they do, I will consider smashing it with a hammer.
Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 9:30 am
“Although Gorman and Peraica are political rivals, Gorman said she did not recruit McMahon or Barron.”
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It never ceases to amaze me how the press takes Liz Gorman at face value.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 10:20 am
I find it shocking that Birkett thinks that an attorney with 3 years of experience is qualified to be State’s Attorney in ANY county, much less a large and complex one like Cook. He reveals himself as more of a buffoon every day. Perhaps a law student could replace him?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 10:41 am
Kadner forgot to mention Ald. Tom Allen who is favored to win the Dem primary and become the next Cook County States Attorney.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 10:50 am
Peraica may be finished. A female, Irish name, $5 million bucks, and another male in the race to split the vote with for good measure. Gorman really did a number on him.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 11:04 am
I was not thrilled to read Da Mayor’s tirade in the Sun-Times this morning. He wants everyone to focus on the criminal element that exists in their communities, but disclude the CRIMINAL COOPERATION and/or COMPLIANCE that exists from individuals who vowed to uphold the law!? As if they are above the law?? Or as if they are not apart of those communities too!
I understand wanting to protect the dignity of the badge and keep dirt off of LAW ENFORCEMENT officers as a whole, but to turn the cheek to cops who have been recorded as violators of their duty and status is just as a big a crime in my opinion.
Why does Daley always play the “victim” card when he gets questioned about something!? Its a joke, RD! You’re above that! If not, hire a publicist or media consultant who will help you formulate a better strategy, cause that one makes you seem emotionally unstable– and I believe you are far more intelligent than that.
Comment by YouNeverSawMe Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 11:41 am
Hey Bill, were you referring to the Ald. Tom allen that finished second in the voting among Democratic Committeemen to 21st Ward Ald. Howard Brookins? With Cook County Comm. Larry Suffredin (the noted former tobacco and gaming industry lobbyist) also in the race for the Democratic Primary, Brookins (the only African-American candidate in the field) has to be considered the man to beat at this juncture.
As for the Republicans, to even infer that a 28-year-old ASA three years out of law school is qualified to be State’s Attorney of Cook County is an insult to the intellengence of every county resident. Should McMahon upset tony Peraica in the Republican Primary, she will surely drag the GOP down across the ticket countywide even further come November, which may doom Republican efforts to hold on to the congressional seats in the 6th and 10th Districts, and cost them additional seats in the General Assembly.
Comment by fedup dem Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 11:47 am
fedup, your second paragraph is on the mark, but missing one thing: that’s actually the intent of the McMahon candidacy; to keep everything in the Dem fold. Peraica’s last opponent was handed a judgeship shortly after the election. Instead of being a 28 year old states attorney, Miss Megan will probably be a 28 year old judge.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 11:56 am
“Bianchi said accusations that he was improperly reimbursed for office expenses were politically motivated.
“Anyone can write a letter to complain,” said Bianchi, who faces opposition in the GOP primary in February. “This is strictly a political move.”
Bianchi said he was outraged.”
Ok, here’s the rest of the story. First off, Bianchi was pushed into that office (McHenry County SA) by the Treasurer (LeFew) and Sheriff. Bianchi was a political nonentity in McHenry County prior to that.
He’s turned out to be a fairly decent SA. Not the greatest, but certainly not the worst. The work gets done, and some things are actually better than before. His biggest sin is that he hasn’t hired (or maybe has hired) some folks who were crossways with his 2 political benefactors.
Now that they found they can’t control him, they want him tossed out of office asap - so you take him out in the primary.
Are there “legs” to the improper expenses story - well, maybe in McHenry County. Those folks are a little bit nuts over what they consider to be appropriate expenditures by elected/appointed officials, although those same expense account rules don’t seem to apply to some county board members, like the chairman. If he had to walk 50 feet, he’d probably turn in for mileage - or else he’d get a limo (probably reimbursed).
If Bianchi was operating as SA in any of the other collar counties, his expenses wouldn’t even be an issue.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 12:20 pm
fedup dem: 1) She’s a better candidate than Howard Brookins. 2) How much further can the Cook County GOP be dragged down anyway?
Anon 10:20: You are absolutely correct about the media’s love affair with Liz Gorman.
Comment by 69 West Washington Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 3:57 pm
The Regular Dems did not endorse in the States Attorney’s race. It is an open primary and Tom Allen will win with 54.5% of the vote, Brookins…2nd and Larry a distant third. Megan will beat crazy Tony in the repub primary, then lose to Allen. You heard it hear first.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 4:44 pm
Bill might be right.
Comment by 69 West Washington Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 5:02 pm
Bill I agree with you on this. The unions hate Brookins for his support of Wal Mart and he almost lost his aldermanic election he barely won in a run off. Brookins hasnt a prayer
Comment by fed up Wednesday, Oct 24, 07 @ 10:07 pm