Daley won't rise to Stroger taunts
POLITICS | Mayor dodges battle over tax increases
Mayor Daley said Friday he would not be drawn into a political fight with embattled Cook County Board President Todd Stroger over which politician has raised taxes more.
Earlier this week, Daley joined his brother, County Board Finance Committee Chairman John Daley, in supporting the repeal of Stroger's one percentage point increase in the Cook County sales tax.
(Jean Lachat/Sun-Times)
The mayor called the increase "very detrimental" for retailers and consumers
Stroger responded by reminding reporters of all the taxes Daley has raised.
Over the last two years alone, the mayor has raised taxes, fines and fees by a whopping $329 million, including the largest property tax increase in Chicago history. In 2005, Daley's $85.7 million tax package included a 0.25 percentage point increase in the Chicago sales tax.
"The city has raised nine different taxes in the last two years," Stroger said.
On Friday, reporters tried to get Daley's response. But he refused to take the bait.
"Remember. I said there was gonna be a gig -- a headline. You would try to get Todd and I kind of fighting. And I said, 'I don't know why you're doing that. ... Don't do that gig. I did not fight Todd Stroger,'" the mayor said at an unrelated event.
"I just said the members of the County Board had to deal with that issue. ... They have to make some difficult decisions, and they made it. I'm the mayor of the city of Chicago. I'm making difficult decisions on my budget. So, no more gigs. Don't write any more headlines like that. ... The gig's up."
Earlier this week, the County Board voted 12-3 to repeal the controversial sales tax increase, setting up a potential showdown with Stroger, who must decide whether to veto the repeal.