Revolt at the polls against the Cook County corruption tax called by Democratic reformer

As I noted in my prior post, Chicagoans are now paying the highest tax of any big city residents. It's likely that it's the highest in the nation, and even if it isn't, it doesn't matter. Paying 10.25 percent is simply too much, especially when we don't get much in return. Pictured on the right is the late John Stroger and convicted felon Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Two years ago, Stroger eked out a win against reformer Forrest Claypool in the Democratic primary for the Cook County Board presidency. In this land of coincidences--Chicago and Cook County--Rezko's wife Rita, the onetime owner of the "Rezko lot" next to Barack Obama's South Side mansion, pictured on the right, received a plum county job.

Rita makes $38,000 a year for a part-time job with County Employee Appeals Board. She's eligible for health insurance, and her responsibilities involve attending roughly one meeting a month, something Ms. Rezko wasn't doing much during the run-up to her husband's first corruption trial.

Plenty of county residents work five or six days a week so they can bring home $38,000. They're the ones who will get hurt the most by the new tax.

My guess is that there are hundreds of Rita Rezkos working for Cook County. It's the worst government money can buy.

A week before the 2006 Democratic Primary, Stroger suffered a massive stroke--he was never seen in public again. He passed away earlier this year. Back room deals put the inept Todd "Toddler" Stroger on the general election, and with a lot of help from politician like Barack Obama, the younger Stroger defeated Republican Tony Peraica that fall.

Claypool voted against the "corruption tax," and in this e-mail announcement, he all but announces that he'll be a candidate against Todd Stroger in the 2010 Democratic primary.

Today, thanks to President Todd Stroger and his allies, Chicago has the highest sales tax (10.25%) of any city in the United States. Business owners will face sales taxes that are at least two percentage points higher than their neighboring competitors. County shoppers will have greater incentive to shop outside the county, destroying local jobs.

The $426 million dollar tax increase comes as families struggle with $4 gasoline and escalating food costs. Unemployment in the metro area continues to rise.

Despite this backdrop, the first instinct of Cook County politicians is to raise taxes, rather than seriously attack the legendary bloat, waste and incompetence of local government. At the county's hospitals and clinics, bureaucrats failed to bill $250 million in annual reimbursable costs from Medicaid and insurance companies. Taxpayers simply made up the difference.

The Democratic Machine has ensured that voters here will never enjoy the rights enjoyed by citizens in other states, such as recall of elected officials and petition and referendum. Our only recourse is to encourage a revolt at the polls on February 2, 2010, a ridiculously early and bitterly cold date chosen by party officials to discourage turnout by those not affiliated with the system.

February 2, 2010. Tell everyone you know: Mark your calendars. And dress warmly.

And once again, I have to ask, what does Obama have to say about the corruption tax? He enthusiastically (see below post) endorsed "The Toddler" two autumns ago. Speak out. And not through a spokesman, please.

UPDATE 12:00 PM: Morton Grove businessman Andy McKenna, who is the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, offers his anaylsis:

"It's pretty clear that Barack Obama's friends like Todd Stroger are giving a glimpse into what life will be like under an Obama presidency," said McKenna. "I have to believe if Senator Obama felt differently he would have spoken against this tax increase."

"How can we expect Barack Obama to bring change to Washington if he cannot bring change to Illinois?"

Related post:

Rita Rezko's contribution to America's worst government, Cook County

Technorati tags: Obama politics Barack Obama Election Democrats Illinois Politics Cook County Stroger cronyism nepotism Tony Rezko corruption