By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) A new report says powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan may try to kill the unpopular Cook County sweetened beverage tax.    Crain’s Chicago Business Greg Hinz told “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” on WLS,  that Madigan is concerned that so many recent tax increases have been passed that could jeopardize Illinois House Democrats in the Chicago suburbs.

“The Speaker is worried”, said Hinz, “There’s been some public polling that shows it is a big drag on Democratic candidates out in the County.   It may have finally reached critical mass here.  You have a state income tax increase, you have a county sales tax increase, you have all of Rahm’s property tax increases, you have the bag tax, now on top of this you have the soda pop tax.   Even in Illinois and Cook County, enough is enough sometimes.”

Hinz quotes sources who say Madigan recently asked Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to drop the one cent per ounce sweetened beverage tax, and she refused.

Now his sources say Madigan may convince his allies on the County Board to repeal the tax, and vote to overturn Preckwinkle’s expected veto.   If that fails, Madigan could pass legislation in Springfield to repeal the beverage tax.

Read Greg HInz Crain’s Chicago Business story here .

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