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Partial sales tax rollback passes, threatening public health system jobs, services

(November 17, 2009)
     Cook County Commissioners voted 12-5 to roll back half of the one penny sales tax increase passed last year.
     County Board President Todd Stroger says the move will decimate the county health system that serves the poor and uninsured.
     “This has really become a battle of the haves and the have nots," Stroger said. "Those who have districts that are economically depressed will suffer with this rollback."
      A recent change in state law means commissioners could override a potential Stroger veto of the measure with just 11 votes.
     A standing-room crowd attended the public meeting as unions and other community groups turned out to show their opposition to the proposed tax rollback.
     SEIU was represented by Local 73 Vice President Betty Boles, Doctors Council SEIU Regional Representative Emile Junge and more than a dozen union representatives and organizers.
     The motion passed with seven Democrats crossing party lines to vote with Republicans on the rollback.
     Commissioners failed to pass a bill rolling back the tax by one-percent.
     Board President Todd Stroger supported keeping the tax increase in place, saying it was needed to avoid steep cuts in county services and employment.
     Commissioners failed to rollback the sales tax twice during the summer.
     That prompted the state legislature to pass a bill reducing the number of commissioners needed to override a veto.

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