NPR's report: tinyurl.com/2u7ja4

This 1st in the nation innovative tax will incentivize the largest polluters in Cook County, including Midwest Generation Corporation’s coal-fired power plants in Pilsen and Little Village, to reduce their deadly pollution while raising much needed revenues for health and other services for the County.

However, the law is under serious threat of veto by Board President Todd Stroger according to the Daily Hearld: tinyurl.com/2dv28g

President Stroger has until mid-day on Monday to announce his veto of the legislation. If no veto is announced by then, the Sulfur Dioxide Tax is safe. That gives us three business days to convince Mr. Stroger not to veto.

Please call him: (312) 603-7584
Fax him: (312) 603-4397
Email him: tyson (at) tysonstronghill.com (Stroger’s chief of staff)

We understand that business groups around Illinois are pressuring President Stroger to ‘oppose any tax.’ But residents and community groups supporting the tax point out that this is actually a voluntary – or optional – tax because by reducing emissions from their plant, all companies subject to this tax can eliminate having to pay the tax and at the same time help the health and welfare of residents living near their facility.

A number of community organizations and residents are also forming plans to hold a press conference in front of the President’s office, please let us know if you are available to participate.

Background information is attached and listed below.

Thank you!
Dorian Breuer
PERRO
pilsenperro.org
312 315 4950


BACKGROUND by American Lung Association:

In late 2006, the State of Illinois reached agreements with major operators of older coal-fired power plants to reduce air pollution. Despite this progress, power plant sulfur dioxide reductions will not be required for all such facilities in Cook County for nearly 12 years. The extremely long timeline sparked outrage from communities living in the shadow of large smokestacks.

Collectively, major sources of sulfur dioxide in Cook County have emitted over 30,000 tons annually to the air in recent years.

Maldonado's proposal was co-sponsored by Commissioners Earlean Collins, Mike Quigley and Joan Murphy and was supported by Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Daley, Murphy, Sims and Steele.

It was also strongly supported by the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, the Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization, the Environmental Research Network, Environment Illinois and many concerned citizens. A study done at Harvard School of Public Health found air pollution from the coal-fired power plants in the Little Village and Pilsen communities of Chicago within Cook County has been directly linked to over 40 premature deaths, 2800 asthma attacks, and 550 emergency room visits every year.

WHAT: -- Seen as innovative municipal tool for reducing particulate emissions from power plants and large polluters
-- Expected to raise up to $7 million annually to offset Cook County medical care for those suffering from lung disease

WHEN: Wednesday, February 21, Cook County Board

WHY: Scheduled to go into effect May 1, the tax would charge major sources of SO2 pollutant $400/ton and could generate up to $7
million annually to help stave off cuts in Cook County medical services.

Cook County fails to meet federal air quality standards set in 1997 for fine particle pollution.

American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago worked with Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado who guided passage
of legislation with a vote of 10- 5.

Cook County Board President Stroger threatens to veto the bill.