Senate committee advances cigarette tax increase

By DOUG FINKE

A $1-per-pack hike in Illinois’ cigarette tax was approved by a state Senate committee Wednesday, as Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, also introduced legislation to repeal the legalization of video poker in the state.

Poker was made legal in 2009 as a way to pay for the state’s $31 billion capital program, although the law still hasn’t take effect.

If lawmakers approve the cigarette tax hike, the revenue will essentially replace money that would have been generated from legalizing video poker.

“We haven’t got one penny from video gaming because of bureaucratic bungling,” Cullerton said Wednesday.

via Senate committee advances cigarette tax increase – Springfield, IL – The State Journal-Register.