She wasn't firing at city council, but rather at Mayor Nutter for slashing $7 million, or 22%, of her budget.
The public defender, she complains, is only a getting 4% budget cut.
Everett Gillison, the deputy mayor for public safety, was summoned to go toe-to-toe with the ever combative D.A., who claims the quality of law enforcement will be severely crippled in Philadelphia if her office takes that big a hit.
"Don't try to tell me, Mr. Gillison, that this is fair and you're going to look for money. If the city is short, it's short. You are not going to get it from supplanting federal dollars for new programs," said Abraham.
"The idea is, as you're aware Madam District Attorney, is that by freeing up monies we can use with grants you can do your core services in way that you'll provide the core services you'll need," Gillison replied.
The city council indicated they can't live with a 22% cut in the D.A.'s budget. It's one more window into the dispute between the mayor and city council over how to cut $1.5 billion over the next 5 years.
"We are in conversation with the administration to try and come to an agreement on this year's budget," said City Councilman Frank Rizzo, Jr.
This year's budget impasse is increasingly bitter. With several serious deadlines only days away now, the issues of budget cuts and tax increases continues raging with no clear signs of compromise in sight.
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