Lawmakers take aim at Stroger's veto power
SPRINGFIELD - The state isn't going to repeal Cook County's much maligned 1 percentage point sales tax increase, but it might make it easier for county commissioners to do so.
On Wednesday the Illinois House rejected efforts to set aside the sales tax increase, with critics calling it "unfair" meddling in local Cook County issues.
But that occurred after House members overwhelming supported changing the level of support needed on the county board to override the board president's veto. Both efforts were sponsored by Arlington Heights Democratic state Rep. Mark Walker.
A county president veto override currently requires a four-fifths majority, which is a near impossibility politically, as taxpayers learned when county commissioners voted to repeal the tax increase only to have their actions vetoed by board President Todd Stroger. The board twice tried to override that veto but couldn't muster the needed 14 of 17 votes to do so.
The House endorsed lowering the level to three-fifths, which translates into 11 of 17 commissioners. Supporters, like Evanston Democrat Julie Hamos, said the issue wasn't taxes or Stroger, but rather correcting an anomaly in state law that allowed the higher proportion to exist.
The switch had broad support, passing 95-18. But a procedural maneuver invoked after the vote by a Chicago Democrat will keep the proposal in the House for now rather than sending it on to the Senate, where a similar plan previously was supported. State Rep. Deborah Graham, who voted for the proposal, requested the vote be reconsidered. Until that request is addressed, the plan stays in the House.
Rep. Eddie Washington, a Waukegan Democrat, was the only local lawmaker voting against the proposal.
Walker's attempt to have the state step in and repeal the tax was not as well received, sparking protest from Chicago Democrats, one of whom - Chicago Democrat Monique Davis - questioned if the effort wasn't racially motivated.
Other House members in both parties questioned the political motivation behind Walker's ploy.
"Shouldn't the next bill be to abolish the Cook County Board?" said state Rep. David Reis, an Effingham-area Republican. "We all see what's going on here. This is nothing more than a campaign mail piece."
Chicago Democrat Ken Dunkin prodded Walker to add the recent Arlington Heights sales tax increase if he's really such an anti-tax crusader.
The proposal was voted down. It needed 71 votes for approval and received 65.
Walker said he was simply responding to his suburban constituents' frustration with the tax increase.
"It has been a disaster," he said.
Other critics questioned the legitimacy of a state awash in red ink and unable to make tough choices to balance its budget telling another government that its budget balancing moves were wrong.
Stroger has estimated a repeal of the sales tax could blow a $400 million hole in the county budget, while critics say every day it's in place businesses and shoppers flee Cook County.
Ironically, the extreme four-fifths majority was first instituted to ensure the suburbs would have a say in such matters. The margin assured that, on a then-smaller county board, at least one suburban commissioner would need to join those from the city to override a veto. But now many of the 17 districts include both city and suburban territory.
Critics say the provision is antiquated and unnecessary and gives the county board president more political protection than that afforded to the governor or president of the United States, both of whom can be overridden by lawmakers on a three-fifths vote.
Tax: Original law was enacted to protect suburbs
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=329010">How your lawmakers voted <span class="date"> [10/14/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>