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Rollback to be vetoed, decriminalization won’t

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Illinois

* Todd Stroger will veto the sales tax rollback…

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger said he would issue a veto Friday opposing a resolution passed Tuesday by county commissioners to partially roll back the 1.75 percent sales tax, a penny of which went into effect last summer.

“I plan to veto this measure because it is no longer feasible for the county to rollback any portion of the sales tax,” Stroger told the Defender. “For example, next year we have $104 million in pension obligations to meet.”

Stroger said that the state’s budget problems have compounded the county’s fiscal challenges.

“About $13 million may be held back from the state due to its budget shortfalls, so now is not the time to be cutting revenue,” he said.

* But he will not veto the marijuana decriminalization ordinance..

.”I’m fine with it. It’s just another tool a law enforcement office can use,” Stroger said. “It’s also like anything else; (officers) can also check and see the background of a person, and if (the person has) been fined twice, (police) can say, ‘OK, you’re going in.’ It doesn’t take their ability away from doing that.” […]

Asked whether he has smoked pot, Stroger said, “No, not my kind of thing.”

No comment.

* Gov. Pat Quinn is also OK with the pot ordinance…

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says he’s open to local efforts to decriminalize marijuana.

The Cook County Board voted Tuesday to decriminalize small amounts of the drug in unincorporated parts of the county. But Quinn stopped short of endorsing the plan.

QUINN: I think it’s important that counties assess what their law enforcement priorities are. Crimes that are not grievous crimes against persons need to be looked at.

Good for him.

* And speaking of stuff people want to ban…

The legalization of online horse betting in Illinois could boost a company with ties to former Gov. Jim Edgar.

The two-term Republican is a member of the board of directors of Youbet.com, which could be among the companies vying to provide an online horse betting platform in Illinois.

The proposal was approved by the House and Senate this spring and is awaiting action from Gov. Pat Quinn.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 9:42 am

Comments

It always seemed out of character for Edgar to be such a railbird. The sportin’ life at the track just doesn’t compute.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 9:54 am
It appears the federal government is going to continue enforcing it marijuana laws in California.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1553061.html

Comment by Reality is Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 10:04 am
So we should be allowed to bet on horses online…but not sports? And not play poker?

Comment by Concerned Observer (on vacay) Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 10:08 am
Local policies have already decriminalized pot in IL. Sugar Grove, (or should it be Groooooove)for example.

http://www.mpp.org/states/illinois/news/decriminalizing-pot-in-cook.html

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 10:55 am
Six, that was in yesterday’s post. The Sun-Times editorial mentioned it.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 10:57 am
Such a progressive thinker! Prohibition just doesn’t work.

Stroger now has my vote.

Comment by Johnny USA Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 11:00 am
Chicago Heights also decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of marijuana under former Mayor Anthony DeLuca. Possession of small amounts is punishable by a fine of up to $250.

Comment by reformer Friday, Jul 24, 09 @ 12:17 pm