May 13, 2008 5:59 pm US/Central
Stroger's Health Care Board Picks Face Criticism
2 Nominees Rejected, 1 Withdrew
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger April 30, 2008.
CBS
After a daylong battle over who will run Cook County's billion-dollar system of hospitals and health clinics, County Board President Todd Stroger must come up with several new names.
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, not many people are paying much attention, but the health system is the biggest piece of county government that Stroger controls.
Facing revenue shortfalls and potentially another round of cutbacks later this year, the choice of who will run the new governing board may be the most important decision the county board will make this year.
The county board voted to accept six of the nine nominees Stroger submitted, with longtime Stroger critic Commissioner Forest Claypool voting "no" on all the names.
"Todd Stroger's missed the boat on the type of board we need to attract – independent, professional CEOs who have proven that they can do a massive turnaround job like this," Claypool said.
The county board rejected outright two of Stroger's nominees to the new board that will run the health and hospital system of Cook County, with a third withdrawing because he said he was simply too busy to fill the post.
Stroger now has 14 days to submit new names for approval.
The health board cannot begin functioning until all the vacancies have been filled.
"I don't care what group he came up with. I truly believe the people on this board would be opposing them no matter who they are because they're appointed by Todd Stroger," said Commissioner John Daley.
The fight is certain to continue. The outcome is vitally important to everyone in Cook County, from those who pay the taxes to those who rely on it for their health care.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
