Today's Toddler Round-Up

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 12, 2009 7:00PM

So you know Cook County Board President Todd Stroger decided to veto the Commission's one-percent sales tax repeal, claiming that such a repeal would force the closing of multiple hospitals. With his veto unpopular, the Toddler went on a PR blitz this morning, talking to WGN Radio's John Williams (part 1 and part 2) and then hanging up on WLS' Don Wade & Roma.

Then, he held a press conference at Provident Hospital where he asked, “Do we go back two years ago, where there was a $238 million shortfall? Did anyone come back with a plan to say how they’re going to fill the hole? No.’’ Stroger also added that he will survive this, politically speaking, indicating perhaps confidence in his re-election run next year: "I'm not wounded, if I believed everything written about me I wouldn't be wounded I'd be dead." He also went on the attack, going after our favorite Twittering Commissioner, Tony Peraica, and Forrest Claypool for their attacks on him. "That's what they call politics...What have they proven?"

Meanwhile, as our pal Steve Rhodes points out over at NBC 5, Stroger may not have to sweat his veto standing. If he gets just four votes in support of his veto, it stands. The original vote was 12-3 with Commissioners Earlean Collins and Deborah Sims not voting in that original count. If Stroger can keep his allies and then sway one of the two, he'll get his way. [Tribune, Sun-Times]