Health groups protest Rauner veto pushing age to buy tobacco to 21

Posted on August 28, 2018

Governor Rauner vetoed the measure this week that would push the legal tobacco purchasing age to 21. (Facebook/Bruce Rauner)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Health advocates are not done fighting for Tobacco 21.

Gov. Rauner vetoed the bill to increase the legal age to buy a pack of smokes from 18 to 21.

“It would heavily hurt the economy,” the governor said Tuesday morning, “and it would push more people who choose to smoke to our border states. We’ll lose the tax revenue, we’ll lose the jobs, and we won’t change any health outcomes.”

At a statehouse news conference Tuesday, American Cancer Society lobbyist Shana Crews says he has the economic part backwards.

“Every Illinois family pays almost $1,000 in taxes a year to support tobacco because of state and federal tax burdens,” she said. “It’s not about choice, it’s about the public good and what is best for our communities”

The anti-smoking people say once Illinois passes the law, other state will, too. Besides, it’s already the law at the municipal level in many places.

Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said the legislature would attempt an override during the veto session in November.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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