Backed by union leaders, medical workers, Chicago clergy and community activists chanting, "We support the veto," Stroger threatened the cut in the sales tax would likely lead to the closing of Provident and Oak Forest hospitals as well as clinics across the county's Health and Hospitals System and cause a deluge of patients at the John H. Stroger Hospital where he held the news conference.
"There is no gray area on this issue," Stroger said. "I refuse to stand idle while opposition commissioners decimate this system."
He targeted Democratic Chicago Commissioners Robert Steele, Earlean Collins and Edwin Reyes in preserving his veto against an expected override at the regularly scheduled County Board meeting Dec. 1. The rollback passed last week by a 12-5 vote, and only 11 votes are needed to override thanks to a new law passed by the General Assembly and signed this month by Gov. Quinn. Three previous attempts to roll back the 1 percent increase in the county sales tax imposed last year have failed.
"It's really going to have to be the people who speak on this issue," Stroger said. "If they don't speak, with the next budget, I'm going to have to pull rabbits out of the hat."
Click for coverage at dailyherald.com
Click for coverage at chicagotribune.com
Click for coverage at chicagocurrent.com