Liz Gorman on Stroger's Tax Increase & Liz's Skeletons
Dated February 1, 2005 at 7:00 pm
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Jeff Berkowitz: That’s a pretty good deal. So, if you work for Cook County, your health care costs for insurance [for a family] are $16/month, right? That’s a good deal [for the Cook County employee].
Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth (Liz) Gorman: Oh, it’s a great deal.
Jeff Berkowitz: You are saying if the [Cook County] employee paid $32 or $100, it would still be a good deal.
Liz Gorman: Absolutely.
*******************************
Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth (Liz) Gorman [R-Orland Park] is featured on “Public Affairs,” in the suburbs tonight and this week [Comcast Cable, Week of Jan. 31]. See the conclusion of this blog entry for a detailed suburban airing schedule. The same show will air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
****************************************************
Next Week’s Suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features as its guest--Cook County Board President John Stroger [D- Chicago]
******************************************
This week, it is Commissioner Liz Gorman debating and discussing with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz Cook County Board President Stroger's proposed increase in the restaurant, hotel and motel taxes, the impact of the increase on convention business and employment in the County, alternative ways to balance the budget by cutting spending across the board, by increasing employee health insurance contributions and co-pays, by cutting annual employee wage increase from about 8% per year to 3.5 % per year, the Gang of 4 [Quigley, Claypool, Suffredin and Peraica], the Gang of 8 [gang of 4 plus Goslin, Gorman, Hansen and Silvestri], consideration of Gorman by the Republican State Central Committee for the Republican U. S. Senate nomination in August, 2004, civil unions, whether abortion should be illegal and the crime deterrent effect of gun possession.
********************************************
A partial transcript of the show with Commissioner Gorman is included, below.
**********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: President Stroger says, look, that is somebody else [in terms of the existing 15.4 % hotel and motel tax]; He says Cook County has never really levied a hotel or motel tax before. So, this 15.4%, that is the Mayor and other people who are doing that in the City of Chicago, so why pick on us, we need to get revenue, too—he [Stroger] doesn’t want to raise…the general Cook County Property Tax, so his position is why are you picking on us? Why don’t you go shout at the Mayor and the other people who jacked this up to 15.4 %, before. Is that a good argument?
Commissioner Liz Gorman: You know what the [County Board] President ultimately means-he was too late to the punch. And, just to throw a two percent [tax out there], nobody knows where that came from. He didn’t sit down with the restaurant industry and the hotel industry and say, you know what, I really need to get some revenue-- A quarter of a per cent or a half of a per cent--
Jeff Berkowitz: But they are going to oppose anything, at this point, aren’t they?
Liz Gorman: Well, yeah, they are going to oppose anything, but he didn’t even give them the courtesy of sitting down with these industries until before he sent in the budget….
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Jeff Berkowitz: So, what’s the solution. If you oppose this tax, do you want to raise other taxes, cut spending, what do you want to do?
Liz Gorman: …I see health insurance [costs to the County] are just skyrocketing…[but] payroll deductions [from the employees for healthcare insurance] are pretty much being maintained the same… we need some kind of a tiered system for families—the more people on the policy, the more that should be deducted.
Jeff Berkowitz: Right now, what’s deducted is $16 per month per individual.
Liz Gorman: $8 per paycheck [every other week]
Jeff Berkowitz: So, that’s $16 per month
Liz Gorman: Yes, for health and dental.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, that’s the same whether it is an individual or a family?
Liz Gorman: Yes.
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s a pretty good deal. So, if you work for Cook County, your health care costs for insurance [for a family] are $16/month, right? That’s a good deal [for the Cook County employee]
Liz Gorman: Oh, it’s a great deal.
Jeff Berkowitz: You are saying if the [Cook County] employee paid $32 or $100, it would still be a good deal.
Liz Gorman: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, if that portion went up, then the cost of health care to the county would go down considerably?
Liz Gorman: Correct.
**************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, getting back to that potential U. S. Senate nomination in August, 2004 by the State Central Committee, you were previously president of Midlothian Dodge and your husband was involved, his dealership was involved in lending money to your [2002 County Commissioner] campaign, and he was involved in a racial discrimination lawsuit—people are saying there is a whole mess there. Daimler Chrysler is accusing your husband of financial mismanagement [and he is accusing Daimler Chrysler of pushing him out of his dealership because he would not go along with alleged racially discriminatory practices of Daimler Chrysler]. Is that a skeleton that you didn’t want to get into [by becoming the Republican U. S. Senate candidate in August].?
Liz Gorman: You know, it is not a skeleton. I would love to comment on the truths that are happening, but at this point, because of pending litigation, I am not at liberty to comment.
*************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Are you a reformer or a non-reformer?
Liz Gorman: No, I’m a reformer.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Is Andy McKenna a reformer?
Liz Gorman: Yes.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Is Judy Baar Topinka a reformer?
Liz Gorman: [Saved by the bell, show ends before County Commissioner Gorman can answer.]
*********************************************
Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman, interviewed on "Public Affairs," as it is being cablecast this week [Week of Jan. 31] in the suburbs on Comcast Cable. See the text, directly below, for a detailed "Public Affairs," suburban airing schedule. This show was recorded on January 23, 2004.
*******************************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
*****************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
*******************************
******************************
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s a pretty good deal. So, if you work for Cook County, your health care costs for insurance [for a family] are $16/month, right? That’s a good deal [for the Cook County employee].
Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth (Liz) Gorman: Oh, it’s a great deal.
Jeff Berkowitz: You are saying if the [Cook County] employee paid $32 or $100, it would still be a good deal.
Liz Gorman: Absolutely.
*******************************
Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth (Liz) Gorman [R-Orland Park] is featured on “Public Affairs,” in the suburbs tonight and this week [Comcast Cable, Week of Jan. 31]. See the conclusion of this blog entry for a detailed suburban airing schedule. The same show will air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
****************************************************
Next Week’s Suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features as its guest--Cook County Board President John Stroger [D- Chicago]
******************************************
This week, it is Commissioner Liz Gorman debating and discussing with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz Cook County Board President Stroger's proposed increase in the restaurant, hotel and motel taxes, the impact of the increase on convention business and employment in the County, alternative ways to balance the budget by cutting spending across the board, by increasing employee health insurance contributions and co-pays, by cutting annual employee wage increase from about 8% per year to 3.5 % per year, the Gang of 4 [Quigley, Claypool, Suffredin and Peraica], the Gang of 8 [gang of 4 plus Goslin, Gorman, Hansen and Silvestri], consideration of Gorman by the Republican State Central Committee for the Republican U. S. Senate nomination in August, 2004, civil unions, whether abortion should be illegal and the crime deterrent effect of gun possession.
********************************************
A partial transcript of the show with Commissioner Gorman is included, below.
**********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: President Stroger says, look, that is somebody else [in terms of the existing 15.4 % hotel and motel tax]; He says Cook County has never really levied a hotel or motel tax before. So, this 15.4%, that is the Mayor and other people who are doing that in the City of Chicago, so why pick on us, we need to get revenue, too—he [Stroger] doesn’t want to raise…the general Cook County Property Tax, so his position is why are you picking on us? Why don’t you go shout at the Mayor and the other people who jacked this up to 15.4 %, before. Is that a good argument?
Commissioner Liz Gorman: You know what the [County Board] President ultimately means-he was too late to the punch. And, just to throw a two percent [tax out there], nobody knows where that came from. He didn’t sit down with the restaurant industry and the hotel industry and say, you know what, I really need to get some revenue-- A quarter of a per cent or a half of a per cent--
Jeff Berkowitz: But they are going to oppose anything, at this point, aren’t they?
Liz Gorman: Well, yeah, they are going to oppose anything, but he didn’t even give them the courtesy of sitting down with these industries until before he sent in the budget….
************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: So, what’s the solution. If you oppose this tax, do you want to raise other taxes, cut spending, what do you want to do?
Liz Gorman: …I see health insurance [costs to the County] are just skyrocketing…[but] payroll deductions [from the employees for healthcare insurance] are pretty much being maintained the same… we need some kind of a tiered system for families—the more people on the policy, the more that should be deducted.
Jeff Berkowitz: Right now, what’s deducted is $16 per month per individual.
Liz Gorman: $8 per paycheck [every other week]
Jeff Berkowitz: So, that’s $16 per month
Liz Gorman: Yes, for health and dental.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, that’s the same whether it is an individual or a family?
Liz Gorman: Yes.
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s a pretty good deal. So, if you work for Cook County, your health care costs for insurance [for a family] are $16/month, right? That’s a good deal [for the Cook County employee]
Liz Gorman: Oh, it’s a great deal.
Jeff Berkowitz: You are saying if the [Cook County] employee paid $32 or $100, it would still be a good deal.
Liz Gorman: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, if that portion went up, then the cost of health care to the county would go down considerably?
Liz Gorman: Correct.
**************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Now, getting back to that potential U. S. Senate nomination in August, 2004 by the State Central Committee, you were previously president of Midlothian Dodge and your husband was involved, his dealership was involved in lending money to your [2002 County Commissioner] campaign, and he was involved in a racial discrimination lawsuit—people are saying there is a whole mess there. Daimler Chrysler is accusing your husband of financial mismanagement [and he is accusing Daimler Chrysler of pushing him out of his dealership because he would not go along with alleged racially discriminatory practices of Daimler Chrysler]. Is that a skeleton that you didn’t want to get into [by becoming the Republican U. S. Senate candidate in August].?
Liz Gorman: You know, it is not a skeleton. I would love to comment on the truths that are happening, but at this point, because of pending litigation, I am not at liberty to comment.
*************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Are you a reformer or a non-reformer?
Liz Gorman: No, I’m a reformer.
********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Is Andy McKenna a reformer?
Liz Gorman: Yes.
*******************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Is Judy Baar Topinka a reformer?
Liz Gorman: [Saved by the bell, show ends before County Commissioner Gorman can answer.]
*********************************************
Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman, interviewed on "Public Affairs," as it is being cablecast this week [Week of Jan. 31] in the suburbs on Comcast Cable. See the text, directly below, for a detailed "Public Affairs," suburban airing schedule. This show was recorded on January 23, 2004.
*******************************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
*****************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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