* Cook County politics appears to be as dysfunctional as its statewide cousin…
A Latino commissioner angrily charged Friday that Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s office and allies are threatening to crack down on illegal immigrants unless the commissioner votes for a 2 percent sales tax increase.
Commissioner Roberto Maldonado says the not-so-thinly veiled threats came to a head during a Friday breakfast meeting with Stroger chief of staff Lance Tyson.
Just three months after the County Board voted to declare the county a “sanctuary” for immigrants, Stroger ally Commissioner William Beavers is introducing a measure Tuesday to temporarily revoke that status and allow the county to study its “fiscal impact.”
* Maldonado is the crucial swing vote who will make or break Stroger’s tax hike, so the county board president is now trying to distance himself from his political godfather’s idea…
In a Sun-Times story Sunday, Maldonado said he would not back any Stroger tax plans unless Commissioner William Beavers withdraws a proposal to revoke temporarily Cook County’s status as a sanctuary for illegal immigrants while a financial impact study is conducted. Stroger distanced himself from Beavers’ proposal Sunday, saying he did not support it.
* Meanwhile, Gov. Blagojevich couldn’t stop himself from jumping into the fray. Stroger has said the tax hike could help him save the county’s health care system…
But in an appearance Sunday on WMAQ-Channel 5’s “City Desk,” Gov. Blagojevich came out swinging against a sales tax hike, saying “it’s wrong” and “disproportionally hurts low-income and working-class families.”
“We are trying to pass access to health care for everybody that would ease the Cook County health care budget by $300 million,” the governor said.
* Here’s that City Desk video.
* The insanity continues. Not all county commissioners cut their budget as required…
While most made sacrifices by cutting thousands of dollars from their office budgets, laying off employees or taking furlough days, Commissioner Earlean Collins hardly cut anything at all from her budget.
“No, I didn’t cut 17 percent,” she said. “I had my reasons. But I’m not getting into that with you.”
Collins recently said it’s necessary for her to retain her own attorney, providing legal advice, because she doesn’t always trust advice from the state’s attorney, who is the board’s attorney.
* Related stories and editorials…
* Critics say sales tax would hurt Cook Co.
* Tribune Editorial: John Daley and the truth
* Daily Herald Editorial: Cook sales tax hike should be rejected
* Daley’s double tax trouble
* CPR: Commissioners debate sales tax boost
* Stroger’s push for tax increase draws criticism
Discuss your disgust.