Sunday, April 19, 2009
Chicago Tribune

In your endorsement of Kim Walz to replace Mike Quigley on the Cook County Board (Editorial, April 10), you laud her commitment to reform as the reason for your support. Then you proceed to define "reform" as opposing taxes. We beg to differ. Opposing taxes is not reform nor does it make an elected official a "reformer." Ironically, on the same day you called the county sales tax increase "needless" in your endorsement of Walz, the Tribune ran an article exposing the practice of non-profit hospitals directing uninsured patients to the county health-care system for treatment while maintaining their tax-exempt status—a practice that undercuts taxpayers and our public health-care system. You admit the Cook County Health and Hospital System is swamped and cash-strapped; nevertheless, you continue to rattle the war saber against commissioners who supported the sales-tax increase and endorse candidates solely based upon their opposition of it. At a time of economic decline and ever-increasing numbers of uninsured people in Cook County, failure to fund health services adequately is not an option. The choice is clear: Either allow a complete meltdown of county government and the county's health-care system to occur or maintain essential services. Leadership often requires making tough choices, making hard and unpopular decisions. I hope that in the future, we broaden our definition of "reform" beyond opposing taxes.

—William McNary, co-director, Citizen Action/Illinois, Chicago