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Feds probe Moreno's push for contract for pal (more Cook County corruption)
Chicago Tribune ^ | 12/19/08 | MARK J. KONKOL

Posted on 12/19/2008 11:41:08 AM PST by randita

Feds probe Moreno's push for contract for pal

COOK COUNTY | Commissioner denies influence

December 19, 2008

BY MARK J. KONKOL Cook County Reporter

Federal authorities have launched a probe into Cook County Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno's push to get his pal and political supporter, Ronald Garcia, a piece of a multimillion-dollar hospital system billing contract, sources said.

The U.S. attorney's office wants to know more about Moreno's role in lobbying Georgia-based Med Assets Inc. to hire Garcia's firm, Chicago Medical Equipment and Supply, as a minority subcontractor. » Click to enlarge image Federal authorities have launched an investigation into Cook County Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno's push to get his pal Ronald Garcia a piece of a multi-million dollar hospital contract. (Brian Jackson/Sun-Times)

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday that Moreno sent word of minority contractor preference through county interim hospitals chief David Small, which led to a sit-down between Garcia and Med Assets President John Bardis, sources said. Med Assets hired Chicago Medical but recently ousted the company, claiming it overbilled by as much as 135 percent.

After Chicago Medical was fired, Moreno's friend county hospital board audit committee chairman Dr. Luis Munoz forwarded a proposal to audit Med Asset that the board approved.

Moreno denied trying to influence Bardis to hire Garcia, whose firm donated more than $10,000 to Moreno's campaign. Moreno has said he did not influence Munoz's call for an audit of Med Assets.

The Cook County inspector general's office also is asking questions about the situation, sources said. Related Blog Posts Moreno named to Obama Transition Team


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: blagojevich; chicago; moreno
According to a google search, Moreno and Blagojevich are good friends.

Anyone think Fitzgerald is going to pull all these crimes together and go after a RICO case?

It was rumored before the election that Fitz was working on a RICO case and it was speculated to be related to ACORN activities, but maybe Rezko has blown the cover on the whole Chicago organized crime syndicate.

1 posted on 12/19/2008 11:41:09 AM PST by randita
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To: malkee

ping


2 posted on 12/19/2008 11:42:13 AM PST by randita
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To: Admin Moderator

Please correct the source to the Chicago Sun-Times. The URL link is correct. Thanks.


3 posted on 12/19/2008 11:46:22 AM PST by randita
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To: randita

I trust the powers that are becoming want public perception to remain limited to the environs of Cook County, and the State of Illinois. Washington DC? What’s that?


4 posted on 12/19/2008 11:48:14 AM PST by the invisib1e hand (appeasement is collaboration.)
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To: randita

“Anyone think Fitzgerald is going to pull all these crimes together and go after a RICO case? “

I don’t believe Fitz would write a traffic ticket to ‘Big’ Al Capone. He is a pure figurehead...to dems. If it was repubicans, he would have 10 GJs working.


5 posted on 12/19/2008 2:46:55 PM PST by dbacks (God help the USA.)
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To: randita

Is Joseph Mario Moreno related to Jonathan D. Moreno,PhD?

Nov 18, 2008 ... Last week, Obama named Jonathan Moreno, a professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, to head up bioethics efforts


6 posted on 12/19/2008 2:52:36 PM PST by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
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