Illinois lawmakers rekindle efforts to raise tobacco purchase age to 21

By Vincent Caruso

01/29/2019

Lawmakers in the Illinois House of Representatives failed to override former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the “Tobacco 21” bill in November. Gov. Pritzker’s administration has signaled support.

TAGS: cigarette tax, JB Pritzker, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Illinois keeps 18 as legal age to buy smokes

By Joe Barnas

11/29/2018

After narrowly clearing the Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill to make 21 the legal age to buy tobacco.

TAGS: Julie Morrison, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Senate narrowly overrides Rauner ‘Tobacco 21’ veto

By Vincent Caruso

11/15/2018

A bill that would raise the legal age to 21 for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products will return to the Illinois House of Representatives after Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Illinois Senate, Julie Morrison, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Lame ducks: What Illinois taxpayers should watch for in veto session

By Mindy Ruckman

11/13/2018

Lawmakers, including 37 lame duck legislators, on Nov. 13 convened in Springfield for a veto session likely to feature political pensions and unfunded mandates.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, fall veto, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, pensions, tobacco, Tobacco 21, veto

Rauner vetoes smoking ban for Illinoisans under 21

By Vincent Caruso

08/27/2018

Chicago’s legal smoking age of 21 would have been expanded statewide under the proposal.

TAGS: cigarette tax, Dan McConchie, e-cigarettes, e-cigs, Julie Morrison, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Illinois lawmakers pass bill raising legal age of tobacco, e-cigarette purchases to 21

By Vincent Caruso

05/30/2018

Pending the governor’s signature, the bill would expand Chicago’s smoking age restriction statewide.

TAGS: Julie Morrison, regulations, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Senate votes to ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

By Vincent Caruso

05/04/2018

Pending the House’s vote and the governor’s signature, the bill would expand Chicago’s smoking age restriction statewide.

TAGS: cigarette tax, e-cig ban, e-cigarettes, Julie Morrison, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Gas stations sue Chicago over arbitrary “flavored tobacco” restrictions

By Bryant Jackson-Green

11/12/2014

Government has plenty of tools at its disposal to fight teen smoking. Arbitrarily banning products based on geography shouldn’t be one of them.

TAGS: ordinance, regulations, tobacco

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inherited a $2.8 billion budget deficit the moment he stepped into office. Next year, that deficit is projected to be $3.4 billion1. It’s the same story every budget season. But Illinois’ budget crises could be a thing of the past if the state would adopt pension reform, right-size its union contracts and...

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Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

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Tracy Ross

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students