Politician denies anti-tax proposal is election related
Sen. Matt Murphy won't admit his latest bill is already dead.
But he concedes it's an uphill battle, trying to roll back the Cook County sales tax increase via a state law.
That's because his bill, because it limits home rule powers, would require a three-fifths majority vote in Springfield. Even more daunting, it would have to have the blessing of Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones, a tight ally of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, to make it out of committee.
"I think it's politically impossible," said Paul Green, a professor of political science at Roosevelt University.
Friday, Murphy, a Palatine Republican, joined a growing line of politicians in tight political races advancing bills or ordinances that critics say are dead on arrival but reaping some publicity in the months leading up to their races.
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, running against Democrat Anita Alvarez for Cook County State's Attorney, was first. As expected, his rollback bill died at the Cook County Board. Then, in the last two weeks, came Democratic State Reps. Paul Froehlich and Fred Crespo, sponsoring three bills that would roll back the tax increase from the state level, rather than the county level. Froehlich, on the hot seat for his recent conversion from the Democratic party, faces Republican Anita Forte-Scott. Crespo will run against Margaret M. Brothman. Murphy, facing Democrat Peter Gutzmer in the fall, joined them with a bill of his own Friday.
In Murphy's case, he held his news conference Friday in a state building paid for by taxpayers - a perk not available to his citizen competitor.
Although the county raised the sales tax in February, Murphy only introduced his bill this week. But he denies he deliberately delayed it just to gin up publicity before his race.
"I do wish I had thought of it sooner," said Murphy.
While he concedes it's an uphill battle, Murphy says the only other option would be to do nothing.
"If we're not trying to do something, what good are we?" asked Murphy.
His opponent, Gutzmer, could not be reached for comment Friday.