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* UPDATED x3 * Stroger: Tax rollback “dangerously responsible”

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*** UPDATE 3 *** Daley jumps aboard the bandwagon…

Mayor Daley threw his support today behind an effort to the repeal a 1 percent Cook County sales-tax increase that was approved last year.

Daley said that doesn’t mean he’s withdrawing his support for Cook County Board president Todd Stroger, who pushed for the increase and said Tuesday he will veto the repeal.

*** UPDATE 2 *** CBS2 raw video of the county board meeting is here.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Click here to listen to President Stroger say a veto of the tax rollback could be an “excercise in fertility.”

[ *** End of Updates *** ]

* This vote was completely unexpected, as was the turmoil it caused…

Cook County commissioners voted Tuesday to repeal last year’s unpopular sales tax increase — but taxpayers shouldn’t hold their breath that they’ll soon be paying less at the cash register.

The 12-3 vote to roll back the 1 percentage-point increase next January was a political body blow to Board President Todd Stroger, who immediately vowed to veto the measure.

Commissioners acknowledged they may not have the votes to make the tax repeal stick. An extraordinary 14 of 17 County Board members are needed to override a president’s veto.

* Chicago Public Radio has a great play-by-play. A gradual rollback was initially introduced after the TV cameras had left the chamber. But then after some debate, Commissioner Roberto Maldonado moved to amend the bill to immediately repeal the one percent sales tax…

STROGER: And when you talk about this tax increase, know something about it! Talkin’ about the world and all that crap. What do you know about the world?

A normally reserved Daley stepped out of character and took on President Stroger.

[MAYORAL BROTHER JOHN DALEY]: And you might want to listen for a change.

And there was a preview of what’s likely to be a highly contentious Democratic primary in 2010 between rivals Forrest Claypool and Todd Stroger.

CLAYPOOL: We have a real problem here with a board only being able to do so much to reform and streamline this government without a chief executive who’s willing to do those reforms.

STROGER: That’s exactly what I like. Passing the buck. We can’t do anything. We’re only elected. We only make $85,000 a year to do nothing!

* As noted above, Stroger threatened a veto, which will likely be impossible to override. But then later in the evening came this…

In an absolutely scorching statement released late Tuesday, Mr. Stroger threatened “thousands” of health and public safety layoffs and the closure of “at least one — and possibly two” of the county’s three hospitals. […]

The statement says the repeal would cost the county $245 million this year and roughly twice that next year. The “quarter-of-a-billion disaster” is occurring only because its advocates “have once again chosen to put their political opportunism ahead of the public well-being,” the statement says.

“Their dangerously responsible (sic) position threatens health care for hundreds of thousands of our patients, and will force the layoff of thousands of union workers at a time when the economy is facing its deepest crisis in 60 years,” it states.

Doomsday cuts might help Stroger make his case that the tax hike was needed, but, then again, he’s so unpopular that the cuts would probably only damage him more. A veto, of course, would just drive on more nail into his political coffin. He’s got more nails in that coffin than True Value.

Also, you may see movement on a bill soon in the state Senate which will greatly lower the veto override requirement from the currently outrageous four-fifths majority.

* Related…

* Cook County rolls back sales tax

* Board votes to repeal hike

* Stroger Vows Veto On County Board Tax Hike Repeal

* County Republicans praise Gorman push to repeal Todd Stroger Sales Tax

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:10 am

Comments

Am I the only person who is dying for a t-shirt that says “Dangerously Responsible”? Forrest, I think we have your new campaign slogan…

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:13 am
I’m with you soccermom. The greatest line that made me laugh and almost crash on the Kennedy this morning was: “I’m gonna run on Todd Stroger and that’s all I can do.” And that’s not much! Maybe worth 12% of the primary vote?

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:24 am
I’m usually not a fan of Elizabeth Doody Gorman, but props to her for bringing this resolution to a vote.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:42 am
My favorite IL political quotes now include

“I know the truth of things, and I have nothing to fear but the truth!”

and

“Their dangerously responsible position threatens health care…”

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:46 am
Looks like Todd will go down firing.

I know that both he and Burris are very unpopular across the board. Still, my instincts tell me that dumping two black incumbents in next year’s primary and replacing them with white nominees could cause problems for the Dems with the most loyal component of their base.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:48 am
Stoger seems to be completely out of touch. Of course, the democrats have made a mess of Cook County.

Comment by Downstater Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 9:50 am
Is this like a Cook County mutiny or something?

As a side note: “Talkin’ about the world and all that crap. What do you know about the world?” is going to be my answer to the next caption this.

Comment by dan l Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:00 am
Dangerously Responsible! - Robert Palmer, VanillaMan

How can it be responsible?
They compromise my principle, yeah yeah
That kind of vote is mythical
I’m anything but typical

It’s a craze you’d endorse, it’s a powerful force
We’re forced to cut back when there’s no other course
A rollback doesn’t look good to me, and I find it

Dangerously Responsible!
Dangerously Responsible!

A Rollback is so powerful, huh
It’s simply unavoidable
The trend is irreversible
Luckily I’m invincible!

I’m a freak of law, so this leaves me in awe
It deserves the applause, but I won’t surrender
I’ll shut down the hospitals, and I find it

Dangerously Responsible!
Dangerously Responsible!

Everything’s fine, but I’m not tellin’ where the money went
Taxes are fine, it’s all mine, there’s no other way to go

Rollback’s unavoidable, I’m backed against the wall
Polls gives me feelings like I never felt before
I’m breaking promises, and breaking every law
This Board looked good to me, but now I find it

Dangerously Responsible!
My family’s fine, but there’s no tellin’ where the money went
Nepotism is fine, there’s no other way to
Go

Their methods are inscrutable
The proof is irrefutable, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Politically, it’s kissable, huh
But my veto is indivisible!

Rollbacks a craze you’d endorse, it’s a powerful force
You’re obliged to conform when there’s no other course
This job used to look good to me, but now I find it

Politically indefensible!
Dangerously Responsible!

Cook County needs more, there’s no tellin’ where the money went
I’ll lay off thousands, there’s no other way to go
Claypool look fine, but he is not really heaven sent
Saw my poll numbers, just how lower can I go?

It’s all - Dangerously Responsible!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:08 am
“Their dangerously responsible position threatens health care…”

That argument works very, very well on the state level, why doesn’t it work on Cook County level?

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:15 am
A Daley voting in favor of a tax DECREASE? What’s next, my Cubbies winning a World Series title?

The Machine has officially dumped Stroger.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:16 am
If Todd keeps up with this kind of talk, Norm Crosby is going to sue him for theft of intellectual property.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:23 am
rollback could be an “excercise in fertility.”

I tell VanillaWife that all the time.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:26 am
Vanilla Man, you’re on a roll today. Keep ‘em coming!

Comment by phocion Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:40 am
Sorry, but I’m not buying into the County Board’s sudden fiscal responsibility. They know Stroger will override this grand stand leaving us with exactly what we started with-the highest sales tax in the country while they can claim they voted to repeal it. The Commissioners who put this tax increase in place need to be held accountable for their vote-the real vote.

I actually agree with Stroger on this. This is a totally irresponsible CYA move by the Board and will end up helping the Toddler look like he is protecting poor folk.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:47 am
In Stroger’s defense, he probably understood the host’s question to be about vitro, rather than veto…could happen to any of us

Comment by Greg Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:53 am
Et tu, John Daley?

If Todd Stroger wants to be taken seriously I recommend he craft a compromise that includes cuts and a partial sales tax increase. And the cuts have to hit some of the cronies and political fat.

But if Stroger plays chicken and cuts the jobs rather than negotiate to cut the fat, he’ll prove the observation that he’d cut medical services for every poor person in Cook County before he cuts one crony from payroll.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:07 am
AA thinks the Toddler is auditioning for the office of VPOTUS with all these gaffes.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:07 am
To be printed prominently on a new line of maternity wear—

EXERCISE IN FERTILITY

Comment by been there Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:11 am
Well, wordslinger, that’s a bridge the Democrats are going to have to cross. The machine has to be taken down a notch, and if two of its most prominent water-carriers that both happen to be black are both up for re-election in the same year, well, we have to take care of business.

And frankly I’m tired of the codependence between black voters and the machine. Where are the Baby Boom and Gen X versons of Harold Washington and Tim Evans? Lost in a flotsam of third-rate machine lackeys, that’s where. Washington died horribly prematurely, the south side machine enabled Sawyer to get past Evans, and it basically went downhill from there.

There was a time 20 years ago that the African American community in Chicago was at the forefront of change and reform. It’s beyond time to rekindle that spirit. Also, it might just shake the lakefront liberals out of their stupor, which has become as all-encompassing as that currently enveloping the politics of the South Side.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:25 am
– Where are the Baby Boom and Gen X versons of Harold Washington and Tim Evans? –

The White House?

AC, it’s a time-honored Machine tradition. If someone might cause you some discomfort at home, infect them with a case of Potomac Fever. See Paul Douglas and Adlai Stevenson, II and III.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:32 am
I don’t know if they can do anything about the veto margin down in Springfield…

From an annotated version of the constitution

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/ILConstitution.pdf

See Page 72

The Illinois Supreme Court held that a reduction in the majority of the Cook County
Board needed to appropriate a substantial sum of money did not amount to a change in the
county’s form of government so as to require referendum approval; but that a reduction in the
majority needed to override a veto by the board president did constitute a change in the form
of government and thus was invalid without referendum approval.97

The case reference in the footnotes may be wrong, not really sure. But it does look like this is at the least an open question

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 12:07 pm
Todds spokesperson was on Chicago Tonight last night with Mike Flannery and Forrest Claypool…it was SO entertaining (and aggravating) to watch the mud slinging between Claypool and the Todder’s talking head…just a preview of the sideshow to come in 2010…BTW, Todd’s person is extremely skilled at her game…who is she and where did he find her?…

Comment by Anonymous45 Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 12:22 pm
It’s nice to know that Stroger’s PR person is as good as his CFO/cousin was at proofreading before sending something out. Hiring someone who is competent would be dangerously responsible.

Comment by Baltimoron Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 1:02 pm
Here’s some interesting reads on this issue for you folks.

http://www.fritchey.com/sharedAssets/CountyBoardVetoOverridePressRelease.pdf

http://fritchey.com/sharedAssets/strogervetoflip-flop.pdf

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 1:34 pm
Truly classic malapropisms!

Running on/as Todd Stroger seems like a winning proposition for Cook County - someone else wins!

Given that Burris and Stroger are in so far over their heads, I don’t expect a backlash from the African-American voter. But maybe they’ll “punish- us by voting for Paul Vallas! Spank me, please!

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 1:54 pm
=== it’s a time-honored Machine tradition ===

the machine is a myth manufactured by the combine.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 1:56 pm
CA, not to mention that stroger himself would fit very well as a character in the rivals.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 2:01 pm
I’m with Cap’n A: Get out the paddleboard, spank me, and vote Vallas…I have a hard time believing that anyone who would vote for Todd again is not a patronage hire…his spokesperson on CT said there are “ONLY” 2000 patronage jobs in County Government…that would account for his garnering 21% of the primary vote vs. Claypool and Precwinkle…

Comment by Anonymous45 Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 2:20 pm
John…

So you disagree with the opinion in the version of the state constitution from the LRU on page 72 of the document page 82 of the pdf, that this change would have to come via referendum?

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/ILConstitution.pdf

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 2:35 pm
I don’t think that the opinion is dispositive of the issue.

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 3:42 pm
Rich Daley will show tepid public support for Stroger before the ‘10 primary while sending all sorts of signals it’s OK to vote for Preckwinkle.

Preckwinkle is the best option for Daley. He could have brother John keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn’t try too much to reform the Cook patronage machine. Rich would also get to appoint a lapdog alderman to replace the quasi-independent Preckwinkle.

While Daley could live with Claypool he opposed John too often to get Rich’s support.

Comment by Independent Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 5:06 pm
Rep. Fritchey

I had to google dispositive but once I did I see your point.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 10:07 pm
I was listening this AM, too. Shame that “Talkin’ about the world and all that crap. What do you know about the world?” are two sentences that do not transcribe well.

Otherwise, they’d be on a t-shirt, too.

Comment by Ahem, The Real Anonymous Wednesday, May 6, 09 @ 11:10 pm