Video Gaming Update
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The amendment to prohibit video gaming in unincorporated Cook County, which was approved in the Finance Committee Meeting last week, passed today at the County Board Meeting. I voted in favor of the ban on video gaming.
As I mentioned after last week's public hearing on video gaming, I am in favor of allowing local determination of whether video gambling is appropriate for each township and municipality, including the surrounding unincorporated areas. While I still believe video gaming is a predatory form of gambling and inappropriate as a revenue
stream for public services; I also believe it is important for local units of government to have direct
say about what is right for their communities.
Over the coming weeks I will work with my fellow commissioners to re-craft the ban to allow each township the opportunity to decide whether video gaming should be permitted in their unincorporated areas.
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Keeping the Inspector General Independent
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The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was created in 2007 with the express mission to "detect, deter and prevent corruption,
fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination and
misconduct in the operation of Cook County government." The OIG is a relatively young office at Cook County, and preserving its independence is paramount to ensure the integrity of the office.
With this in mind, I sponsored an amendment to the ordinance governing the authority of the Inspector General to make clear that the
Independent Inspector General has the authority to initiate an investigation of an elected
official based on his or her independent judgment notwithstanding any unverified information or anonymous submissions of information. This amendment will help preserve the independence of the Inspector General's office, and ensure that the OIG has the ability to carry out its duties and fulfill its mission to the fullest extent for the good of the citizens of Cook County.
This amendment was approved.
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Veto Override Requirement
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Over the past few months, the County Board has made several attempts to repeal the 1% sales tax increase--an increase I was against from the very beginning. The Board has been unable to make any progress in this matter despite several different drafts of the legislation offering whole and partial repeals in an effort to garner the support for a veto-proof majority. At the last vote in September, a partial sales tax repeal fell just one vote short of permanent passage.
The difficulty the Board has faced in repealing the sales tax is due at least in part to the County's unusual veto requirement--Cook County is the only government in the State of Illinois with
a veto override requirement of 4/5 of the members of the legislative
body. This requirement gives unprecedented power to the Cook County Board President, making it virtually impossible to pass any legislation over his disapproval. This uncommonly strong veto power is inherently unfair to the citizens of
Cook County who are represented by the County Board.
In April, the State Senate passed a bill (SB1868) seeking to amend the unfair veto override requirement by
changing Counties Code to provide for the same 3/5 veto override
requirement as is required in every other County with veto power. At today's board meeting I co-sponsored a resolution urging the Illinois House of Representatives to pass SB1868 and the Governor to sign it
into law, changing the Cook County Board's veto override requirement from 4/5 to 3/5.
This resolution was approved.
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In the District
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Palatine Township
Approved recommendation for change in plans and
extra work on Plum Grove Road (Old),
Algonquin Road to Meacham Road in the City of Rolling Meadows and the Village
of Schaumburg. Adjustment of quantities and
new items. $70,316.58 (Addition).
Palatine and Wheeling Townships
Approved change in plans and
extra work on Arlington Heights Road,
Rand Road
to University Drive
in the Villages of Buffalo Grove and Schaumburg. Final adjustment of quantities.
$29,196.20 (Deduction).
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