Cook County Board President Todd Stroger finally made up his mind this afternoon and announced he will veto the ordinance approved last week to repeal the controversial one percent sales tax hike he rammed through last year.  The bright red headline on today's press release read: "Stroger vetoes sales tax bill, calls for graduated roll-back instead." The statement doesn't offer any concrete plan to do so, however.  Instead it simply reiterates the 25 percent roll-back proposal he put forth several weeks ago:

“I have always supported rolling back the sales tax as funds become available. That is what I committed to in 2007, and that is why why I proposed rolling back the sales tax increase by 25% last month. That’s why I am committed to future roll-backs as funds become available. I stand on those positions. Even commissioner Claypool agreed that a staggered roll-back was the responsible course of action, rather than imposing the full penny rollback. He continues to talk out of both sides of his mouth, but even he cannot dodge this financial reality.

During the WVON interview in which he made the announcement, Stroger said that he's confident the board won't have the votes to override his veto.  This indicates that, in addition to the three commissioners who voted against last week's ordinance, he has the support of at least one of the two commissioners who missed that roll call (he needs four votes to defeat an override).

Regardless of the veto, it's clear that the one-two punch of the Tony Cole scandal and the sales tax repeal has significantly hurt the already-weakened board president.  To wit: Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward), who is gearing up to challenge Stroger in 2010, hit back during an interview with WBEZ earlier today:

Preckwinkle says the repeal is a sign commissioners don't have confidence in the current board president, Todd Stroger.

PRECKWINKLE: It's an indication that the president of the board can no longer muster a majority for his plans and programs.

On a related note, Congressman Danny Davis -- who has previously suggested he might run for board president -- told the Sun-Times he won't get in the race unless Preckwinkle "pulls out."