Tribune Slams Alderman's Control of Chicago WC System

Monday, August 20, 2018 | 0

Another voice has called for an end to Chicago's long-standing arrangement that lets a city councilman have control over the workers' compensation system for city employees.

Alderman Ed Burke

In an editorial published Friday, the Chicago Tribune newspaper cites a recent federal lawsuit that charges that allowing Alderman Ed Burke to manage an executive-branch function is unconstitutional and fosters a corrupt political patronage program.

"We’ll leave that question to the courts. There’s zero doubt, however, that vesting complete control of the workers’ comp fund in a single committee chair, shielded from oversight, is a terrible idea," the editorial said.

Burke, "aided by weak-kneed aldermen," has been able to shield the program from audits and performance measures, and city officials should be held accountable, the newspaper argued. 

"It’s a blot on Chicago government that is long overdue for a fix," the editorial said. "Who will have the guts to do it?"