Top News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation that reduces Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's veto power, which would make it easier for Cook County commissioners to roll back a controversial sales tax hike.

Quinn signed the legislation Saturday afternoon in Chicago. The measure reduces the margin needed to override a veto from a four-fifths majority to three-fifths.

Quinn said the legislation "really corrects a mistake" that required the Cook County Board to meet a tougher threshold to override a veto than virtually any other governmental body. Most governments require a three-fifths or two-thirds majority to override an executive's veto.

"For democracy to work well, we want no branch of government at the state level or at the local level to have an undue influence," Quinn said.

The law was inspired by a 2008 sales tax hike of a penny on the dollar for Cook County, which made sales taxes in Chicago the highest in the nation.

Stroger repeatedly has vetoed efforts to eliminate or reduce the tax increase. Commissioners have twice attempted to roll back the tax hike, but have been unable to override Stroger's vetoes.

Under the new legislation, 11 of the 17 Cook County board members would be needed to override a veto, instead of 14 as before. The new law goes into effect immediately.

Quinn did not say specifically if he thought the sales tax hike should be repealed, but he did say he thought the increase was "excessive."

The most recent attempt to override Stroger's veto fell one vote short, so it is unlikely Stroger would be able to block another effort to reduce or eliminate the sales tax hike.

Lawmakers approved the measure to reduce the Cook County veto override requirement legislation last month.

State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), the Senate sponsor, joined the governor and a handful of other lawmakers at Saturday's signing of the legislation.

"We are attempting to make sure that we are leveling the playing field, that we have a greater foundation of fairness, that we make sure that the voices of taxpayers are being heard when it comes to policy that is being made," Kotowski said.

A handful of senators spoke out against the measure last month, saying the state should not interfere with local governments in such a manner. State Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) said if lawmakers wanted to reduce the threshold to override a veto in Cook County, the law should not go into effect until after the next election for Cook County Board members.

"We're changing the rules in the middle of a game. Like it or not, they voted for this president that is now serving the county board," Trotter said. "Just because you don't get your way, you don't change the rules."

Trotter abstained from voting on the measure.

The Illinois House of Representatives approved the measure two weeks ago, so the proposal now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his consideration. The governor has said he supports the effort to reduce the veto threshold in Cook County.

Stroger supported a similar measure during his 2006 campaign. At the time, he said, "I know full well this means it would be easier for the Cook County Commissioners to override any Presidential veto that I may make as the next Cook County Board President, and even knowing that, I support this measure. This is not about politics or power, this is about what's best for Cook County."

But Stroger had urged lawmakers to reject this latest effort, saying that allowing Commissioners to roll back the sales tax hike would force the county to make major cuts to health care, public safety and other services for the needy.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Editor's Picks

• Gay Celebrities
• Did You Know? Stars From Chicago!
• Celebs Who Lean To The Right
• Real Or Fake?