Partisan Debt Standoff Spills Over Onto County Board
CHICAGO (CBS) -- While the standoff between Democrats and Republicans continues in Washington over the debt ceiling and spending cuts, the partisan rhetoric is spilling over into local governmental debates as well.
As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, a resolution before the Cook County Board this week urged the Illinois Congressional delegation to oppose cuts to the Medicaid program – cuts that would greatly affect the hospitals operated by the county.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports
Podcast
But Commissioner Gregg Goslin (R-14th) objected.
"I support cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security and defense spending – cuts," he said. "We're never going to survive if we don't cut those entitlements."
But across the aisle, Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy (D-6th) urged a yes vote.
"To cut the entitlements on the poor is not the way we need to go; I mean, they're in enough trouble as it is," she said. "What we need to cut is defense – absolutely, we need to cut defense – and they say they're going to do that, and we also have to tax the wealthiest."
Republicans on the board did not agree with the taxation suggestion. Still, the measure passed.
