Board's D.C. trip costs you $10k
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Chicago Sun-Times
By Steve Patterson, Staff Reporter
February 28, 2008
Critic calls conference 'a beyond-worthless boondoggle'
Amid threats to cut jobs and close health clinics and courthouses,
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and almost half of
the County Board are set to get away from it all this weekend
in Washington, D.C., at taxpayer expense.
County taxpayers are set to cough up almost $10,000 for Stroger,
his cousin -- county finance chief Donna Dunnings -- seven
commissioners and others to attend the National Association
of Counties' annual legislative conference, an event one commissioner
who attended in the past called "a beyond-worthless boondoggle"
that serves only as "an excuse to take a trip."
A $500 registration fee has already been paid for each, records
show, while airfare and rooms at the Hilton Hotel have already
been reserved at taxpayer expense.
In addition, each county employee traveling is entitled to
collect a $34 per diem for meals each day they're in Washington.
Stroger and some commissioners are set to fly out Saturday
-- a flight that could come just hours after the board votes
on whether to cut jobs and end some services.
Those set to attend say if a budget isn't passed and the government
is set for a shut-down, they'll cancel their travel plans.
But the Web site of the association hosting the conference
says registration fees for the five-day event are now nonrefundable,
so the county might not be able to get money back from hotel
and air reservations, if the officials cancel too late.
The average airfare to D.C. is $150, while the average cost
of a room at the Hilton is $200 per night.
Should the County Board strike a compromise and pass a budget,
commissioners Roberto Maldonado, Gregg Goslin, Tim Schneider,
Joan Murphy, Peter Silvestri, Deborah Sims and Robert Steele
say they're still planning to attend, although Goslin and
Schneider said they might now consider paying some of their
own expenses.
But Commissioner Mike Quigley, who has attended in the past
and dubbed it a "boondoggle," said none of the travel
should be paid by taxpayers.
Others say the trip is too important to skip.
"We are honored and revered at NACo -- they think what
we do is fabulous," Commissioner Joan Murphy said of
the association.
