Cook County Blog

Chicago Public Radio reports that the Cook County Commissioners are going to vote on override measures to Todd Stroger's veto power. This may make sense in the grande scheme of things where Todd Stroger's ineptness is concerned; but it gives more power to the Cook County Commissioners, which probably isn't a good thing, either.

Later this morning, Cook County Commissioners are expected to urge Illinois lawmakers to change some strict veto override requirements.

Last month commissioners opposed to Board President Todd Stroger's sales tax hike tried to override his veto of an ordinance to cut the tax by half-a-penny on the dollar. Commissioners thought they had the 14 votes needed to make the override, but one commissioner changed her mind.

Today the Cook County Board will take up a resolution that asks state legislators to pass a bill allowing commissioners to override a veto by a 3/5 majority, instead of the current 4/5. The proposed resolution says Cook County is the only one in the state with that high of a requirement.

Also this morning, commissioners will take up an ordinance to ban video poker in unincorporated parts of the county. Illinois lawmakers legalized the machines to help pay for a multi-billion dollar construction plan. Local governments can choose to opt out of the deal.

Two hot button issues are to be voted on today; overriding veto power and video poker. Previous post on video gaming, here.

The Cook County Finance Committee voted in early October to ban video gambling in unincorporated areas of Cook County, but today at its October 6th meeting,the full county board is expected to vote on the ban.

Cmdr. Michael Anton, head of the vice unit for the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department, said the department opposes legalized video gaming. He called it virtually impossible to regulate. -MedIll Reports