Monthly archives: December, 2008

Claypool v. Stroger – It’s On

December 3, 2008
ChicagoChicagolandCook County
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If there was any doubt that Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool was planning on challenging Cook County Board President Todd Stroger in the 2010 Democratic Primary, let there be no doubt: It’s on.

Claypool was “all over” WLS-890 (AM)) radio Tuesday morning, according to the Sun-Times, criticizing Stroger’s 2009 budget proposal — a document Stroger has yet to release to the public.  At 10 a.m., Stroger called in to Mancow’s show to confront Claypool.  What followed was a fiery exchange:

Stroger said his ears were burning more than when my friends are messing with me,” Muller said. “He seemed like a man who couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not a huge fan of his politics, but I have to commend the guy for walking into the lion’s den.”

What followed was the first unofficial broadcast debate between Stroger and Claypool 14 months before their highly anticipated — but not yet confirmed — showdown for board presidency in the 2010 Democratic primary.

According to the Sun-Times, the two shouted over each other “as if voters were headed to the polls any day now.”

Claypool attacked Stroger’s plan to borrow millions to pay for “normal operating expenses” — payments to self-insurance and pension funds — after raising taxes to record levels just six months ago. He called it a move to “cover up” Stroger’s management mistakes until the next election.

Stroger struck back with venom: “Either you didn’t read the budget or you don’t understand government.” Stroger went on to suggest Claypool is nothing more than a do-nothing politician seeking higher office.

Ah, wonderful irony of Todd Stroger calling another elected official a “do-nothing politician.”  Of course, none of this public shouting and  juvenile name-calling speaks well for either board official.  As we make our way further into the murky waters of the Bush Recession, we need elected officials who inspire confidence.

Well, we’re 14 months out from this primary election, and I’m ready.  I hope you are as well.  Cook County residents deserve smart government.  Submitting a secret draft budget riddled with bad math only intensifies our doubts about county government.

Turns Out the Vikings Just Had the Runs

December 3, 2008
Civil LibertiesDrugs
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The NFL has spoken, and two Minnesota Vikings are heading for the bench:

Six players, including the heart of the Minnesota Vikings’ stout defensive line, were suspended by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league’s anti-doping policy.

All six were punished for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

The suspended players were running back Deuce McAllister and defensive linemen Charles Grant and Will Smith of New Orleans; defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams of Minnesota; and long snapper Bryan Pittman of Houston.

A seventh player, Atlanta’s Grady Jackson, was not suspended. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said league chief counsel Jeff Pash had asked for additional information from Jackson.

Minnesota takes a hard hit.  They currently leading the NFC North and rely “heavily on the two Williamses in its run defense, which ranks second in the league.”

Six players total took the dive.

I wonder what professional sports would be like without the drugs?

Todd Stroger Wants Your Money

December 2, 2008
ChicagoChicagolandCook CountyDemocratic NewsEconomy
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We’ve long realized that spending in Cook County is out of control.  Perhaps I would personally have more confidence in President Stroger if he had made a better entrance on a public elevator instead of insisting on a personal elevator.

We know we’re in recession that’s likely to get worse before it gets better, but Stroger is fooling himself that his a budget that borrows $740 million in bond issues is free of additional taxes.  Bonds need to be paid somehow.  Where’s the new sustained revenue stream in the budget to pay the debt service on these bonds?

Some wise voices on the board agree:

“There’s an economic crisis just short of the Depression, so for us to suggest that nothing’s changed and it’s OK to borrow our way through this problem is foolhardy,” Commissioner Mike Quigley said.

“This is a re-election budget for Todd Stroger,” Commissioner Forrest Claypool said. “It is designed to give him hundreds of millions of dollars of borrowed money to get through the elections and then after the election, [there will be] tax increase No. 2 from Stroger because that money has to be paid back.”

Stroger has other ideas, claiming his budget demonstrates a continued “pathway of reform, efficiency and modernization.”

But Stroger refused to release the proposed budget in its entirety.  That’s a huge mistake from a public relations standpoint, but characteristic of Stroger’s much-less-than-transparent style of governing.

I’d love to see what Commissioner Forrest Claypool saw when he read the first draft of Stroger’s Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time budget. Mark Konkol has the story:

“I’ve never seen a government that put out a budget so chock full of errors, inaccuracy and misinformation. I don’t even think they know their own financial picture,” Commissioner Forrest Claypool said. “It shows remarkable ineptness and is symbolic of general mismanagement of county government that taxpayers pay a heavy price for.”

On Wednesday, Stroger’s staff “demanded” some commissioners return the error-riddled copies while corrected versions are being made.

According to Konkol, the errors in the budget amount to very, very bad math:

The biggest problem with the budget document was in calculating the difference between 2009 budget line items and the 2008 spending plan. The 2009 proposed funding levels were subtracted from what individual departments requested rather than last year’s appropriation.

Cook County residents deserve much, much better.  I hope voters who were so hungry for change will remember the call to the polls when primary season rolls around again.

Cook County desperately needs change.

My money is on Forrest Claypool.  I hope he considers another run.

And Stroger needs to release his draft budget now so we can all have a look.  Maybe we can help him with his math.