Rising Tobacco Taxes: In Illinois Why or Why Not

RISING TOBACCO TAXES: In Illinois Why or Why not

Lorenzo mitts

Devry University

Composition

10/25/2012

Rising Tobacco Taxes in Illinois

A stressful moment, a 15 minute break at work, or even a after dinner taste to calm your food, either way it's used tobacco is still one of the most recreational activities among most humans. Is it cancer, is it death, does it bring bad breath and bad health, is it one of the most legally sold drugs produced. With no votes to spare, Illinois smokers are scrambling to find cheaper ways to get their nicotine fix. Yet those not so fond of the smoke polluted air, the stale smoke smell that sticks to clothes, hope that a tax on this extracurricular activity will prove effective by reducing deaths and illness while also helping the government save close to 50 million a year in Medicaid.

In the United States tobacco and cigarettes are taxed at both the state and federal levels. Cigarette and tobacco taxation has taken place throughout history Cigarette smokers across the state are on alert 365 days a year in fear that one of America's past times may so no longer exist in the state.Gov. Pat Quinn and other top lawmakers are aiming to generate around 377 million to help with the State deficit by imposing and raising cigarette and tobacco products. Chicago has the second highest tax on tobacco in the nation.

Illinois current tax is .98 per. Combined with the city and county taxes cigarettes are up to $4.66 in taxes. Cities such as Chicago and Evanston rank second and third for most expensive. High tobacco taxes encourage consumers to shop elsewhere. Cook County recently amended its tobacco tax ordinance to include a tax on all other tobacco products.

The tax is imposed on people engaged in the business as a distributor of tobacco products. The categories other than cigarettes range from cigars to chewing tobacco. Raising the state tobacco tax can alleviate multiple money issues within the state budget. A $1 tax increase can raise an estimated 400 million in revenue over the next few years.

Illinois cities have been ranked as having the highest cigarette taxes in the country. Four of Chicago's top cities made the top ten lists for the highest tobacco taxes in the country. It's not clear why smokers should shoulder the repayment of the debt to the state deficit. People in Chicago have a total of two options, keep smoking and pay extra, or quit smoking and enjoy health.

The worlds view on smoking cigarettes has changed for the most part over the last century. The habit dubbed not a habit by some was once the "in". This trend was once considered to be the cool, sexy, and well enjoyed activity chosen by most people. Today as it