GOP presses issue on Cook tax bills, election

Cook County Republicans tried Thursday to extend the controversy over tax bills and the general election by calling on the U.S. attorney's office to investigate the cozy relationship between Democratic leaders Michael Madigan and Joseph Berrios at the Board of Review.

The issue was ignited Wednesday when Assessor James Houlihan charged that Madigan and Berrios were conspiring to delay the delivery of second-installment tax bills until after the Nov. 2 election in order to prevent a potential tax revolt.

Madigan, the House speaker and head of the state Democratic Party, typically presses assessment appeals before Berrios, chairman of Cook County Democratic Party, on the Board of Review. Houlihan suggested they were working in concert to lower commercial property taxes, thus placing a larger tax burden on homeowners.

Berrios and Madigan both denied the charges, and Berrios is now the Democratic nominee to replace the retiring Houlihan as assessor.

"It's time for the U.S. attorney's office to look into the relationship between Mike Madigan and the Board of Review," said Palos Park's Lee Roupas, chairman of the Cook County Republican Party. "People have the right to honest services here."

"These allegations and this issue speak to the larger issue of accountability in government," added Wilmette's Roger Keats, GOP nominee in the race for president of the County Board.

"It warrants an investigation," Roupas said, also pointing to Berrios' connection last year in what was alleged to be politically connected appeals cases involving a mutual friend, Victor Santana, with Schaumburg Democratic state Rep. Paul Froehlich.

A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said he could not comment on any potential investigation.