Democrats block Cook County tax rollback

SPRINGFIELD - Suburban Republican efforts to force a vote on possibly rolling back Cook County's sales taxes were blocked Tuesday by Democrats in the Illinois House.

State Rep. Sidney Mathias, a Buffalo Grove Republican, complained that his proposal to force public votes on such tax increases was bottled up in a House committee and hadn't been scheduled for a vote. Mathias pushed to have the plan released only to have Democratic leadership say his request was out of order.

Mathias tried to overrule the Democratic leadership and force the issue, but, not surprisingly, that push was defeated in the Democratic majority chamber. The vote was 66-46.

Republicans chided the Democrats, saying they should at least let the plan come up for a vote.

"I am disheartened," said state Rep. Randy Ramey, a Carol Stream Republican whose district includes a portion of Cook County.

Steve Brown, a spokesman for Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, said he thought Mathias' proposal to have a vote on letting the proposal out of committee could be refiled and considered later this week.

But Brown noted he's yet to hear Republicans suggest how to pay for the county hospital, jail and other "non-glamorous" services that the money helps fund.