Cook County commissioners vote to cut in half Stroger sales tax increase

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Emboldened by a new state law, the Cook County Board today voted 12-5 to reduce the county sales tax by a half-cent.

Today's vote is the latest development in a political struggle between commissioners and Board President Todd Stroger, who pushed through a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax increase last year. The unpopular tax hike pushed the sales tax rate to 10.25 percent in Chicago.

Stroger has vetoed past attempts this year by commissioners to cut or repeal the sales tax increase and was able to preserve the tax hike because the board could not muster the 14 votes required to overturn his veto.

But state law recently changed, allowing commissioners to override a Stroger veto with 11 votes. So if Stroger tries to block today's attempt to cut the sales tax, only 11 of 17 commissioners would have to band together to cut taxes.

A defeat today for the Obama endorsed Cook County Chairman Todd Stroger. A victory for the man leading the revolt against high taxes in Cook County: Tony Peraica.