City Room™ - Politics - Change in Cook County Veto Rules Sent to Governor

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Change in Cook County Veto Rules Sent to Governor
Produced by Tony Arnold on Friday, October 30, 2009

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger (AP/File)

State legislators have voted to help Cook County commissioners overturn a veto. The Illinois Senate took action to require a three-fifths majority to override the board president's wishes instead of the current four-fifths.

That could put an end to Cook County's controversial penny-on-the-dollar sales tax hike. Commissioners have repeatedly failed to override Board President Todd Stroger's veto to let the sales tax stand.

Democratic Senator Dan Kotowski says a four-fifths majority is simply too high.

KOTOWSKI: Across the country and in the State of Illinois, you just don't simply see that. What we're trying to do is rectify a wrong and make sure our county board members have more of an opportunity to represent their constitutents on very important issues.

The measure passed the Senate with only one no vote, even though many Senators complained that it is unfair to change the rules on Stroger midway through his term. Some wanted to wait for the change to take effect until after the 2010 election.

The measure now goes to the governor, who has previously signaled his support for the concept.