American Heart Association Statement: Gov. Quinn Signs Cigarette Tax into Law

Below is a statement from Kathleen L. Grady, PhD, APN, FAAN, Illinois Advocacy Committee Chair for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association:


“The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association thank Gov. Pat Quinn for signing SB 2194, which increases the cigarette tax by $1 per pack as part of package to restructure and rescue Medicaid, into law today. We salute the governor’s leadership and support for the cigarette tax throughout this process, and we applaud both Gov. Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly for making this critical legislation a reality.

“The cigarette tax increase benefits the state’s taxpayers in numerous ways, most notably by bringing in over $700 million in much-needed annual revenue for the state to shore up Medicaid. At the same time the tax would encourage nearly 60,000 current smokers in the state to quit the habit, thus preventing more than 50,000 smoking-related deaths in Illinois. The drop in smokers would lower the cost of health care services for tobacco-related health problems and ease the financial strain on Medicaid, and our taxpayers, even more.

“Concern still lingers about some of the drastic cuts to the Medicaid program, but we know that the cuts would have been gravely worse without a cigarette tax hike and the subsequent revenue that the tax increase would bring in. There is no doubt that this is the most acceptable revenue option available in keeping Medicaid from complete collapse.

“We stand with Gov. Quinn as he signs this bill into law, thus saving Medicaid and putting the health of our citizens first. We ask that other organizations stand by this new law that both Medicaid and tens of thousands of lives in Illinois.”