December 13, 2007
County Votes Down Taxes, Bill Beavers Throws a Tantrum
In quick succession, the Cook County Board shot down a series of tax hikes yesterday, including proposed increases on electricity and natural gas. Five other increases backed by Democrat Roberto Maldanado, including taxes on SUVs, hotel stays, jet fuel and liquor sold in bars, died without support from any commissioners.
The 2-14 vote against the electricity and natural gas taxes, proposed by Stroger ally Bill Beavers, signaled the unofficial death of Board President Todd Stroger's dream of hiking the county sales tax by two percent. "If you don't like it, change it. Cut," Beavers said adding that there is “a lack of goodwill” among the board, and a political agenda to shut down the government to show “Todd can’t run the county.” With a budget deficit of nearly $238 million looming, and no agreement in sight, the board ordered all county department heads and elected officials who are not commissioners to present plans to cut their operations by 10 percent.Mike Quigley and Forrest Claypool said that unless they can institute management reforms, closing the deficit will be very difficult. After scheduling testimony for December 19, Finance Committee Chairman John Daley warned that the meeting will not be a "lovefest" about how their departments should be exempt. "Hopefully, this time people will ask the elected officials serious, serious questions about their budgets, rather than praising them, what a great job they're doing, blah, blah, blah," Daley said.
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Here's my nomination for budget cutting:
The Cook County Digital Photography Project:
http://www.co.cook.il.us/Agencies/gis/ccgis_digitalphotography2007.pdf
That's right -- the key to more efficient County services is having a digital photo of everyone's house.
The Cook County digital gestapo...I mean project were spotted this very morning, December 13, 2007 at the corner of 57th and Ellis photographing the University of Chicago campus. The kicker? The project van has Missouri license plates!?!?! Gee, if we're going to have silly County projects, can't the jobs go to Cook County residents?!?!?
What, Beavers didn't rant about how this is a racist move against black people?
That claim was shot down weeks ago by Bobby Steele when Carol Marin asked him point blank on "At Issue."
The money quote here is Beavers saying the board is showing that "Todd can't run the county." Seeing as how Beavers says he's Strogers vote on the board, by extension it shows that Beavers can't run the county.
those "big hog nuts" just got castrated.
Hey Beaver's that red dot on your forehead aint cause you Arabian!
Beavers is going to lose the committeman seat to Sandi Jackson and then become irrelevant very soon. I must admit I am shocked that the county board showed a little backbone and didnt raise taxes.
I'll bet Beavers is getting twitchy because the smoking ban kicks in January first. His quotes will only get more bizarre.
Uh oh. Looks like Beavers self proclaimed status as "Hog with the Big Nuts" is in jeopardy.
Perhaps some sort of plaque could be made, financed by Cook County taxpayers, that could be transferred among commissioners based on whoever the boss hog is that day.