Cigarette tax hikes are here again! This is another issue where politicians just never learn. Despite the fact that cigarette tax hikes are unfair and historically haven’t brought in the revenue officials badly want, Illinois is about to try anyway.  

Even without a clear plan or specific need for the money, Illinois legislators have a proposal to increase the state tax to 90 cents per pack and to give counties the authority to add on more taxes - up to a dollar per pack. TAKE ACTION and tell lawmakers that Illinois doesn’t need new cigarette taxes.

A lot of legislators tend to look at cigarette tax hikes as quick cash, without looking at all the facts. For starters, cigarette taxes are regressive and create a burden on one small portion of the population. Those with lower incomes will be shouldering much more of the tax load than those with more disposable income.

Just like almost any other tax hike, cigarette taxes harm small local businesses the most. Often, people buy their cigarettes across state lines, on the Internet, or on the black market – further draining the local economy. Cigarette tax hikes aren’t a golden goose.  The projected revenue won’t be there and it’s the poorest populations and small business owners that end up bearing the brunt of these schemes.

Real growth comes from rolling back government regulations and cutting the taxes that cripple Illinois.

TAKE ACTION and tell your leaders Illinois needs to live within its means and not reach into smokers’ pockets for a quick fix.

Sincerely,

Dick Armey
Chairman
FreedomWorks.org