The Cook County Board tested embattled President Todd Stroger’s veto power today.
Commissioners supporting a rollback of a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax increase needed 14 out of 17 board members to side with them to override Stroger’s veto of a measure to withdraw the tax increase.
But they came up short.
Here’s how things played out: 11 commissioners voted to override Stroger, 4 others voted to uphold Stroger's veto and 2 voted present (Earlean Collins and Robert Steele).
I, along with a number of voters, have a problem with the present-voters. We elected these commissioners to make tough decisions on our behalf. Instead, they withered in the face of a difficult choice.
Why couldn’t these two commissioners just cast a yes or no vote?
Why were they so afraid of taking a position?
Some voters say voting present is cowardly, and they will be voting present on next year’s ballot.
What are your thoughts on how the today’s vote played out?
Here's a breakdown of how commissioners voted:
Yes to override and cut the sales tax (11): Forrest Claypool, Bridget Gainer, Lawrence Suffredin, Elizabeth Gorman, Timothy Schneider, Greg Goslin, Robert Maldonado, John Daley, Peter Silvestri, Tony Peraica and Joan Murphy.
No to override and keep sales tax (4): William Beavers, Jerry Butler,Joseph Mario Moreno, Deborah Sims.
Present (2): Collins and Steele
