• Font Size    

CBS 2 Most Popular Pages

The Tattooed Ladies of Hollywood
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Cigarette Taxes May Be Going Up Again In Illinois

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +
Jan 14, 2009 6:18 am US/Central

Cigarette Taxes May Be Going Up Again In Illinois

Proposed Law Would Hike Tax By $1; State Rejected Similar Proposal In 2007

CHICAGO (AP) ― Another push is under way to raise Illinois' cigarette taxes by a dollar a pack.

The American Lung Association and the American Heart Association are behind the effort, and Evanston Democratic Sen. Jeff Schoenberg says he will sponsor a bill.

In 2007, the state Senate passed a similar proposal, which was rejected by the House after merchants opposed the measure. Merchants say they will also oppose the latest push.

Proponents of the tax increase say the current economic crisis will give a boost to their tax proposal. They estimate increasing the cigarette tax by $1 from the current 98 cents would bring Illinois an extra $320 million a year.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids contends more than 72,000 adults in Illinois would give up smoking if a tax increase is enacted.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Editor's Picks

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.