CHICAGO (CBS 2) -- Opponents of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger are using a new strategy in the fight over the budget.
They have created a unique alliance to stop county job cuts.
It's a political picture unimaginable only a few months ago -- Tony Peraica and Forest Claypool hailed as conquering heroes by unionized nurses after they and 10 other County Commissioners proposed a budget that saves hundreds of union jobs.
“You cannot simply cut across the board without any reason, afterthought or rationale,” said Commissioner Anthony “Tony” Peraica.
But that's what critics say Stroger did, ordering 17 percent across-the-board cuts to balance the budget.
The commissioners' proposed budget restores 978 county nurses, medical aides, sheriffs’ police, prosecutors and public defenders at a cost of $74 million.
At the same time, it eliminates 397 middle- and upper-management jobs. Critics call those politically connected, do-little jobs. Their elimination would save $40 million.
“Those bureaucrats do not provide comfort to the afflicted. They do not catch criminals,” said Commissioner Forest Claypool. “There's been too much excess bureaucracy in government.”
Labor unions strongly supported Stroger, backing him at a Plumbers Hall rally last November. Union leaders Wednesday refused to repudiate that support, and Stroger simply said the budget process is working.
“They're supposed to put something together. And we'll look at it and see if it makes sense,” Stroger said.
But Peraica, a Republican, took obvious pleasure in this tactical alliance with big labor, despite their election support for Stroger.
“They're entitled to make a mistake,” Peraica said.
Both Stroger and his finance chairman John Daley say they are concerned that the commissioners' budget may restore too many frontline positions, jobs the new hospital director thinks are not necessary and that the county will not be able to afford in future years.
Stroger will offer the last of his budget amendments Friday.
After that the real bargaining between the two sides will begin, with a budget vote just eight days away.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
