A cheaper way than Henry Tonigan?

The latest bill to Judge Gordon Graham (and the taxpayers of McHenry County) of $113,000 from Attorney Henry Tonigan, $113,000, was first reported by First Electric Newspaper (FEN) on December 24th. A belated Merry Christmas, Taxpayers.

This is the billing that blew a crack in the $200,000 ceiling established by the County Board for the special prosecutor who is after Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney. And that last bill doesn't cover the last four months of 2010 or anything in 2011. What is Tonigan's bill through December 31, 2010? $100,000? $200,000?

When he is working against a ceiling of $200,000, why wouldn't he go back to Judge Graham and tell him he is out of money? Why would Tonigan keep working and running up billable hours? Is he wiling to eat those hours and expenses, if McHenry County won't pay him? Tonigan should be required to submit detailed billings monthly, and Judge Graham should release those to the County Board and the public!

FEN Editor and Publisher Pete Gonigam, in an article which can be read at www.firstelectricnewspaper.com/2010/12/special-prosecutor-bills-another-113000.html informs readers (and taxpayers) of another method of investigating a public official. McHenry County is already paying for this method. Why isn't it using it?

The FEN article describes the Office of the State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor, for which McHenry County forks out $30,000/year "membership" fee. FEN calls it a "... kind of a pre-paid legal program for counties." You can read more about the Appellate Prosecutor in the FEN article.