The cigarette tax may just be a smoker’s reason to quit. They will be looking at a dollar per pack increase.
The tax on a pack of cigarettes will be jumping from 98 cents to $1.98. It is a move by the state lawmakers to generate much needed revenue for Illinois. Governor Pat Quinn and health advocates say the increase could also help offset Medicaid cuts and hope it will help cut the amount of smokers.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that the tax increase will raise $350 million per year in new revenue for the state of Illinois.