Cullerton eyes cigarette tax hike, GOP backs away

From Illinois Statehouse News, March 15, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Democrats in the Illinois Senate may be on their own as they try again to raise the state's cigarette tax.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, on Tuesday said he hopes to pass a $1 per-pack tax increase by the end of the week. Cullerton is framing the tax hike as a way to both offset money Illinois has not yet received for statewide construction projects and a path to help people quit smoking.

The original plan to pay for billions in new roads, schools, and bridges is tied-up in a legal challenge now before the Illinois Supreme Court. New taxes on beer and liquor, as well as newly legalized video poker were supposed to pay for all of the work. But video poker has been slow to roll-out, and one of Chicago's largest liquor distributors is challenging the liquor tax.

Cullerton said his cigarette tax would provide $300 million of dollars that the state needs now.

"This is not for the budget of the state of Illinois, it's for the capital bill," Cullerton said. "This money (will) make sure that we can continue to keep people working on the infrastructure projects that have been on-going this year."

Drawing that line, between construction and the state budget may help Cullerton shepherd the tax through the statehouse. The Senate president expects a vote in the upper chamber, perhaps as soon as Wednesday afternoon. He's hoping for cooperation from Republicans, and eventually from the Illinois House.

"We've been working on the capital bill together," said Cullerton. "I don't have an agreement, but I have hope that we have enough votes in the House."

Cullerton's hopes may be dashed. Senate Republican budget expert Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said he'd be surprised if any GOP lawmakers sign on to another Democratic plan to raise taxes again this year.

The Senate president "wants to raise (the cigarette tax) by a dollar a pack, which is going to kill our border towns in particular," Murphy said.

The plan headed for a vote would phase-in the $1 per-pack tax, in two 50-cent increments. The earliest smokers could see the new tax would be July Illinois' current tax is 98-cents per pack, which is in line with other states.

Lawmakers in border communities say it's one of the few taxes that is not higher than all of our neighbors.

State Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, said Missouri has lower taxes on cigarettes, and lot of other things that consumers buy each week.

"They already have less expensive gas over there because of our sales tax on gasoline," she said. "Alcohol likewise is taxed cheaper over there."

Tracy said another tax increase in Illinois would be a competitive advantage for Missouri.

Democrats along the border may also have a tough time voting for Cullerton's plan.
State Rep Pat Verschoore, D-Milan, said the Iowa side of the Quad-Cities draws a lot of folks across the river.

“We already have people going over to Davenport to buy cheaper gas," Verschoore said. "And if they put the cigarette tax, that’ll make our cigarettes more expensive than they are at Iowa. So they’ll pick up their cigarettes also. So I think it’ll harm our businesses, and I would probably vote ‘no’ on that.”

To the north, Wisconsin has been trying to poach Illinois businesses. State Rep Dave Winters, R-Rockford, said no doubt they'll go after Illinois smokers next.

"If you raise cigarette taxes substantially in Illinois, you'll see quite a change in consumer behavior. The hardcore cigarette smokers will not only go to pick -up smokes in Beloit, Wis., but they'd also typically get their groceries, and they may fill-up their gas tank when they're there."

Culleton has pushed for a cigarette tax increase in the past. He's suggested the same $1 per pack increase a number of times. The Illinois House has been reluctant to follow suit. Cullerton said Gov. Pat Quinn is on board with the plan, but isn't saying if the governor's support will bring any votes to the table.