Cook Co Commissioner Morrison points to October 10th for soda tax repeal vote

President Preckwinkle addresses board; Comm. Morrison seated facing camera 

CHICAGO – Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison isn't giving up after the Cook County Board delayed a vote to repeal President Toni Preckwinkle's soda tax by shuffling the measure to the Board's Finance Committee. 

August 9th, Commissioner Morrison and several other board members submitted a repeal ordinance and worked to get an up-and-down vote during Wednesday's board meeting. The board vote to repeal the soda tax, Morrison said, will take place October 10th.  

"I was cautiously optimistic we’d get enough support today to wave the board rules and fast track the repeal ordinance directly to the floor for a straight up or down vote," Morrison of Palos Park said.

"Nobody wanted an up or down vote today more than myself – with the exception of the nearly 90 percent of our Cook County residents who oppose this regressive tax – but I recognized that the political will for a fast track vote was not there." 

Morrison said he will make it his highest priority to ensure that the process is followed precisely to the letter of our rules and ordinances. When the tax passed the Cook County Board, President Preckwinkle broke a tie vote among the commissioners.

"I will also demand that the financial information provided to this board by President Preckwinkle’s administration is honest and accurate so that when this repeal ordinance is finally voted on and it passes, we want it to be safe from any potential litigation.  Cook County taxpayers deserve nothing less," he said. 

Soda tax supporters and opposers were on hand before and during the Board meeting. 

Photos by Mark Weyermuller