Lawmakers may again target Cook sales tax hike, Stroger veto

SPRINGFIELD - Suburban lawmakers say they've gained new support from a key Chicago political leader in their attempt to overturn the much-maligned Cook County sales tax increase.

State Rep. Mark Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat, said he's been given the go-ahead by House Speaker Michael Madigan to push such legislation when lawmakers return to the Capitol later this month for their fall session.

"That's key," said Walker. "He's responsive to this issue."

The General Assembly's Web site shows two proposals filed under Walker's name in recent days. Walker said one would directly overturn the 1 percentage point sales tax increase approved by the Cook County Board to fill budget holes without more severe cuts, an increase that made the collective tax rate the highest in the country.

The second, Walker said, would make it easier to overturn the county board president's veto. Such action currently requires a 4/5ths majority, which is a near political impossibility, 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 commissioners to do so.

"Mr. Walker persuaded the Speaker this ought to get added consideration," said Madigan spokesman Steve Brown. "We'll see how it goes."

The renewed push by Democrats against the tax hike shows just how toxic the issue has become, particularly in the suburbs where Democrats have enjoyed recent electoral success but are by no means guaranteed victory.

Ever since the Cook County tax increase, numerous Democratic officials have sought to distance themselves from it while Republicans hope to capitalize on public outrage over the increase in upcoming elections.

Walker said he routinely goes door-to-door in his suburban Cook County district talking to residents who constantly complain about Stroger, the tax increase and Cook County government.

"The time has come to do some drastic steps," Walker said.

A message left with a Stroger spokesman was not returned, but this week the county board president defended his tax policy during a public forum in Park Ridge.

He reiterated his opposition to a failed attempt to cut the tax increase in half, saying the county "would be $180 million in the hole immediately."

At the Capitol, politics and timing could cast a dubious light on the new effort.

In March, the Illinois House debated and rejected a similar attempt to roll back the Cook County sales tax and force the county to go to voters to get such an increase. That plan, sponsored by Buffalo Grove Republican Sidney Mathias, received 61 votes in the 118-member House but because it seeks to undo the action of a local government, it requires 71 votes - a 3/5ths majority - for approval.

Opposition came primarily from Chicago Democrats. Supporters face the challenge of finding 10 lawmakers willing to change their votes.

In addition, lawmakers are scheduled to be at the Capitol only six days for the fall session which would give very little wiggle room for a new piece of legislation to make its way through the process in both the House and Senate.

But Mathias said he's optimistic.

He noted that the previous House vote on repealing the Cook County tax came before county commissioners tried and failed to repeal it themselves. Now it's clear an overwhelming majority wants to roll the tax back but is stymied by the arcane veto override provisions.

"When I attempted to rescind the tax there was no clear message from the Cook County Board," Mathias said. "Some of the arguments made on the House floor now can be rebutted."

Ironically, the extreme 4/5ths majority was first instituted to ensure the suburbs would have a say in such matters. The margin made it so 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 3/5ths vote.