Ill. House Fails to Reverse Cook County Tax Hike

Springfield - A move to reverse an unpopular Cook County sales tax has failed in the Illinois House. Some lawmakers wanted the state to intervene and block a 1 percentage-point increase in the local tax.

The measure got a solid majority of 65 votes but not the 71 that were needed for this special legislation to pass. Fifty-one House members voted no.

The House did approve a bill making it easier for the Cook County board to override a veto by the board president.

Currently, it takes a four-fifths majority to override, a far higher standard than most government bodies use.

The House voted to require the more common three-fifths majority. It now goes to the Senate.

The bills are HB4624, HB4625.
On the Net: www.ilga.gov