by Tony Peraica

The Chicago Tribune has a very insightful editorial this morning that raises some very serious questions about the ongoing investigation into the Stroger Administration:

Only the foolhardy think they can guess precisely why prosecutors resort to subpoenas in any given case. In this case, though, we have an excellent clue: The Tribune’s Hal Dardick and Matt Walberg report that Cook County prosecutors have subpoenaed county financial records in what sources tell the newspaper is a widening criminal investigation. The probe began with questions about Stroger’s 2008 hiring — and oddly rapid promotion — of steakhouse busboy Tony Cole: You’ll recall that Cole’s county salary shot from $48,000 to $61,000 in only four months.

And the Tribune editorial board rightly scolds those commissioners who previously thwarted attempts to look into this matter further:

The deeper Schneider and board members Larry Suffredin and Tony Peraica probed for explanations, the more Finance Chairman John Daley and other Democratic regulars tried to thwart them. Stroger apologists Joan Patricia Murphy and Deborah Sims even tried in desperation to adjourn the April 23 meeting rather than have appropriate questioning continue.

Now, as the county’s independent auditing firm alerts us that county audit records have been subpoenaed as part of a State’s Attorney investigation — we still get little information from the Stroger Administration.

No surprise from an operation that has operated in secret and fought transparency since it took office back in 2006.

We don’t know the full extent of this investigation, but the mere news of it is quite troubling — especially since it involves county financial records.  I have long raised questions about this administration’s handling of budgetary matters, specifically related to waste and fraud within county government.  This investigation obviously does not allay these concerns, and it should be of extreme concern to the Cook County taxpayers — who right now are paying exorbitant taxes to fill the county coffers that are controlled by this administration.

As President Stroger continues his scare tactics — threatening to close hospitals and health clinics — in order to justify his sales tax hike, we see the State’s Attorney investigating this administration’s handling of our funds.  Doesn’t instill must confidence, does it?

We need answers — and we need them now.  Hopefully, the State’s Attorney will produce some soon.