County Board President Todd Stroger speaks to the press after commissioners struck down his veto on the sales tax rollback. Credit: Alex Parker
Cook County Commissioners dealt President Todd Stroger a blow today, overriding his veto and sustaining the rollback of the one half percent sales tax that they said harmed county residents, slowed business and is illogical in a bad economy.
Commissioners took advantage of a new state law requiring only 11 votes to override the veto, instead of the previous 14. Twelve commissioners voted in favor of the rollback, which will create a hole in the 2011 budget of between $188 million and $200 million. Read more...
The Twitter-related controversy that Commissioner Tony Peraica found himself in this week isn’t causing the suburban Republican to lose any sleep.
He regrets urging people to vote for Democrat Commissioner Deborah Sims’ opponents during Monday’s special county board meeting, but isn’t necessarily backing off the statement. Read more...
It was the tweet heard ‘round the world. Or throughout the Cook County commissioners’ chamber, at least.
Yesterday, Commissioner Tony Peraica used his Twitter account to call out Commissioner Deborah Sims, encouraging voters not to reelect her. Read more...
If you believe Commissioner Tony Peraica's Twitter account, then the future of democracy in Cook County is up for grabs. But, judging by a scene from yesterday's board meeting, political decorum may be on the way out, too.
Peraica is no stranger to controversy. He tends to invite it with his harsh rhetoric and candid takes on government in what he often calls “Crook County.” Read more...
As Cook County commissioners meet today to discuss the unpopular 1 percent sales tax they have unsuccessfully tried to repeal twice in the last six months, several story lines are at play, not the least of which is how County Board Todd Stroger will respond.
It’s likely that commissioners will vote to repeal the sales tax, followed, as in the past, by a Stroger veto. But just how will that veto play out? Read more...
