Failure of repeal proves need to change

As a resident of Cook County, I was extremely disappointed to learn that the Cook County Board failed to repeal board President Todd Stroger's controversial sales tax increase.

I applaud the 13 members of the board who voted to override Stroger's veto of the tax repeal. Unfortunately, under the arcane rules governing the Cook County Board, 13 votes - 75 percent of the total vote _ is not enough to override the board president's veto. To override Stroger's veto, the Board needs a four-fifths majority - a staggering 80 percent of the total vote.

I am fighting to change this outdated and unfair rule. Last spring, I introduced legislation that would have reduced the veto override threshold to a three-fifths majority, 60 percent of the total vote. I hasten to add that a three-fifths majority is all the Illinois General Assembly needs to override the governor's veto and all the United States Congress needs to override the President's veto.

To grant the Cook County Board president greater power over his constituency than that of the President of the United States is ludicrous and unjust. There was a historical reason for the four-fifths requirement - to protect the voice of the suburbs - but changes have made this argument obsolete.

The bill I sponsored flew through the Senate, passing unanimously and with little debate. It's a common-sense measure, and my fellow senators - Democrats and Republicans alike - supported it. At this time, the bill has not been called for a vote in the House. I intend to reintroduce this same legislation with an immediate effective date, during the October Veto Session and to continue pushing for reform until it happens.

Dan Kotowski

Illinois State Senator

33rd District

Park Ridge