Chairman Suffredin announced that there were two purposes for this meeting. First, the nomination of Mr. Weinrock as administrative hearings officer was approved.
Secondly, a man reported on President Obama’s stimulus package, currently before the U. S. Senate , and specifically the concerns that will directly impact Cook County. There may possibly be money for trains and buses, neighborhoods, community block grants, law enforcement, tax credits, and Medicaid funding, and other areas Most of the money that comes to Illinois will go to general revenue funding., although everyone agreed that what came to Springfield would not get to Cook County.
Finally, three witnesses testified before the commissioners. Ms. Christine Boardman represented a union of Cook County workers. She was asked whether she would support job cuts, if necessary, or a reduction in salary for a large number of workers. She said that such questions must be voted on by the union membership. The second witness, Ms. Janice Benson, warned of a coming public health crisis when the newly unemployed and the newly uninsured would need services. Mr. Frank Borgers said we have one month to figure out our options, and recommended that union members reach out to others.