Evanston smokers may start paying $1 extra for a pack of cigarettes if a new proposal from the Cook County board president passes.
Members of the Illinois General Assembly agreed to the proposal, which taxes cigarettes at $1.98 a pack. That amount is 98 cents more than the current tax.
State officials say Illinois hopes to earn $350 million with this proposal. Ream more »
One of the most controversial issues on the upcoming November 6th ballot is Proposition B.
The proposal would raise Missouri’s cigarette taxes from 17-cents per pack to 90-cents a pack. Judy Reece is a smoker. Reece said Proposition B is not fair to people like her and a 760% tax increase on Missouri cigarettes is ridiculous.
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Reduced to three percent, from the original seven percent proposed, the tax should raise the price on a $5 pack of cigarettes by about 15 cents. It would take the form of an occupation tax imposed on tobacco sellers and would help raise about $35 million for the University of Nebraska Medical Center over 10 years. That would help them build a new $370 million campus that would combine cancer research and treatment in Omaha. Ream more »
Chicago smokers could face even higher cigarette taxes as Mayor Rahm Emanuel tries to balance his proposed 2013 budget.
As WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, Mayor Emanuel says his new budget will not propose increases in city property taxes, the sales tax, the gas tax, or the amusement tax as some have speculated.
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“The important thing is to send a strong signal to Thailand that we want full compliance and soon,” said Esteban B. Conejos, the country’s representative to the WTO, when asked about an Aug. 31 dispute resolution meeting.
In an Aug. 21 report, Thailand — found by the WTO last year to be discriminating against Philippine-made cigarettes — said it had been able to implement an independent review of customs decisions. Ream more »
That’s actually a pretty common exchange. It’s no secret that smoking is the designer handbag to many people’s complete drinking ensemble. It’s the same stimulant-depressant combo that makes Red Bull and vodka such fond bedfellows.
Same with Four Loko, speedballs (RIP Chris Farley), double tall mocha Valium, methamphetamine grigio, The Rollercoaster (Xanax, cocaine, phenobarbital), The Banana Split (Mocha frappucino, Lunesta, banana), The Double Dip (deep tissue massage, Zumba, vacuuming), etc. Ream more »
The Illinois legislature sent Gov. Pat Quinn a Medicaid reform and tax package that falls short of his stated goals and raises cigarette taxes to help address a $2.7 billion Medicaid shortfall.
The legislative package sent to the governor on June 7 would cut $1.6 billion from several state programs Ream more »
Smokers in Illinois are now paying more to light up.
A new cigarette tax went into effect Sunday, and the increase is affecting local businesses.
The tax increase means more money for the state of Illinois. But local business owners said it could cut into their profits.
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Governor Pat Quinn signed a new $1 cigarette tax hike into law on Thursday, making Illinois’ cigarette taxes the 16th highest in the nation, up from the 32nd highest. According to the Post-Tribune, total taxes on cigarettes in the city of Chicago will now account for $5.57 of the cost of one pack and in suburban Cook County the per pack tax total will be $4.99. Ream more »
Ten people were indicted in federal court Wednesday on allegations stemming from an illegal cigarette-trafficking scheme that already netted charges against a Cook County sheriff’s officer from Lansing and his adult son.
Police said defendants brought millions of dollars in cash, firearms, narcotics and counterfeit cigarette tax stamps to purchase millions of unstamped, untaxed cigarettes from two cooperating individuals working undercover with federal agents out of a warehouse in Hickory Hills. Ream more »