The Illinois Senate is considering a massive $0.90 per pack increase on cigarettes while also giving localities the option to raise taxes by as much as $2.00 per pack. If passed, this tax could raise the cost of a pack of cigarettes to nearly $9 in the city of Chicago.

Enough is enough! The citizens of Illinois do not need another tax hike. Lawmakers in Springfield have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. TAKE ACTION!

In addition, a tax on cigarettes is regressive, and has historically proven to be an unreliable source of revenue. This tax will hit local businesses the hardest as smokers will be forced to seek other avenues for purchasing cigarettes such as across state lines, through the internet or even the black market.

As the state senate debates this issue, true conservatives need to realize that a tax hike is not something they can support. As one of more than 20,000 FreedomWorks members in Illinois, you need to demand your state government curb their spending habits and learn to work within a fixed budget as the rest of the citizens of Illinois do.

Urge your senators to oppose this tax hike scheme. TAKE ACTION NOW!

Sincerely,

Dick Armey
Chairman
FreedomWorks.org