Cook County Democratic Commissioner says he was threatened on sales tax vote

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

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.

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."

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."

The bill could be swiftly acted on or sent to committee to die.
Heated exchange
Maldonado says the bill has become a bargaining chip in an effort to strong-arm him into voting for a sales tax on Monday.

He says that became clear when he and Tyson met to discuss how Maldonado might vote on hiking the sales tax by 266 percent -- from .75 percent to 2.75 percent.

Maldonado says it was then that Tyson reminded him that the county might not provide immigrants a sanctuary much longer.

"I took that as an insult to me personally and to all [Latino] people," Maldonado said. "I told them I was with them. Maybe not for a 2 percent sales tax, but I was on their side. That's how you treat people who are with you? I'm done with them."

The Cook County Democratic Party wants a 12% retail sales tax and they don't care whether Hispanics like it or not.It's all about good wages and pensions for government workers,you know people who really don't pay taxes.No word yet from "progressives" on this one.