Todd Stroger vetoes sales tax repeal, blames the media for his troubles

Todd Stroger, Cook County Board President

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, in a confrontational mood, blamed the media for his troubles and accused several at the press conference of not having their facts straight.

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger today vigorously defended his veto of a sales-tax rollback and attacked his County Board critics, who he said had their facts wrong.

Appearing combative and animated, he all but declared his candidacy for re-election, saying there are "always people on two sides of the fence." He asserted that the tax-repeal battle had not wounded him politically.

At a press conference at Provident Hospital, he also introduced three black ministers who praised Stroger in stump-like speeches for saving the county health system by not agreeing to the percentage point tax rollback.

Also present at the press conference were Roseland community activist Mark Allen who made a spirited defense of Todd Stroger's record and claimed that Stroger has broad support in the community.

Stroger also trotted out Cook County Health and Hospitals System’s new CEO, William Foley, who seemed ill at ease before the media and couldn't answer many questions because he just started the job recently.

The veto by Stroger is yet another symbol of the deteriorating relationship with the media, who are reflecting the voters. Chicago City Hall Examiner.