Sunday, October 20, 2013

Chicago: Rahm favors nation's highest cigarette tax

Chicagoans may soon be paying America's highest cigarette tax--if Mayor Rahm Emanuel gets his way.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to raise the cigarette tax by 75 cents in order to help balance the budget. That means the new rate would be $1.43 per pack, making the taxes on a pack cigarettes -- when you combine all of the state and local rates -- $7.42 per pack.
As I have explained many times, revenue from cigarette tax hikes almost never match the projections made by their proponents. Some smokers kick the habit, others, particularly in cities with a grifter culture such as Chicago, will purchase their cigarettes from the black market or drive to cheaper jurisdictions.

The southeast side of Chicago borders Indiana.

And because politicians spend first and think--if at all--later, taxes eventually go up for everyone else.

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