ILLINOIS BOTL Please read!!! Stop a possible tax increase.

[kockroach]

I had received an email from a B&M earlier today, saying that the Illinois Legislature is possibly going to be voting on a tax increase for cigars/pipe tobacco. Illinois currently has an 18% tax, and the vote possible vote is to DOUBLE that tax to 36%.

I contacted CRA about this, and received the following from Glynn Loope:

Thanks for your email. Yes, indeed, this seems to be a new "11th hour proposal" to raise the tax on cigars in Illinois. I've been on the phone about it since about 8:30 a.m. this morning, with retail tobacconists in Illinois, and supporting trade associations such as the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association and Cigar Association of America (CAA.)
We are releasing the names via Facebook, twitter, etc., of four key members of the Illinois legislature to contact in opposition to any such tax proposal. In addition, CAA has "on the ground" lobbying support, working the capitol in opposition to the proposed tax increase.

Here are the names of who to contact in opposition:

Senate President John Cullerton 217-782-2728
Senator Republican Leader Christine Radogno 217-782-9707
House Speaker Michael Madigan 217-782-5350
House Republican Leader Tom Cross 217-782-1331

Just say "NO TAX INCREASE FOR CIGARS" - OTP - because there is no bill number; they are trying to insert budget language.

Thanks for your note. Please call these members of the Illinois legislature. This is a very uphill battle because of their attempt to do this in the closing moments of this legislative session, much less during a holiday weekend. But let's work to defeat it.
I am copying our membership director Brian Berman, and board member of Illinois, Mark Brownlee.
Many thanks for your support.
Glynn

I hope that all of the BOTL in Illinois take the opportunity to contact each of the names above and ask that they not allow this tax increase. And please, spread the word to anyone else you know.

 

[CigarGavin]

This is crazy; I already get people at the POS that place down there cigars and walk out because they didnt know about the 18%, 36% would be criminal. Any other brothers in Illinois NEED to contact the mentioned names, im calling now...

 

[mthhurley]

I got a slightly different email that included a link to do an online petition



Michael: Your legislature is looking to double cigar and pipe tobacco taxes! Urge them NO NEW TAXES!
Illinois! Proposed Tobacco Excise Tax Increases!
Take Action!

Urgent! Contact Your State Legislators Now!

Illinois Premium Tobacconists and Consumers! The State Legislature is presently debating across-the-board tobacco excise tax rates:

Other Tobacco Products (OTP) excise tax (applied to cigars and pipe tobacco) proposed to increase from 18% to 36%.

At this time the legislature has not published an official bill and therefore there is no bill number. Contact your state representative and senators now and urge them NO NEW TAXES!

http://capwiz.com/rtda/issues/alert/?alertid=61371221&queueid=

 

[Gotee7]

Done.

Heres an idea. Instead of doubling my tax, why dont you take all the freeloaders and put them to work fixing my roads. This gets me so riled up!!

 

[JDog]

Thank you guys for the heads-up and link. I submitted a letter to the Governor and appropriate district Representative and Senator.

 

[reinadocigars]

Let's get on this brothers... I'm going to call those numbers now. Thanks for the post kockroach.

 

[Soundta]

I replied to that email also

-Jerry

 

[thedismaltrade]

A plan to raise Illinois cigarette taxes by $1 a pack has cleared its first legislative hurdle. An Illinois House committee approved the plan 9-1 Friday. The full House immediately began debating the proposal.--State Journal Register

 

[Jfire]

Wouldn't they be out of legislative session by now for the holiday weekend? Maybe that was the plan all along.... Many won't be back for several weeks.

 

[mthhurley]

A plan to raise Illinois cigarette taxes by $1 a pack has cleared its first legislative hurdle. An Illinois House committee approved the plan 9-1 Friday. The full House immediately began debating the proposal.--State Journal Register

Holy crap this passed the House already and is onto the state Senate. Wow.

 

[W.B.]

Done, thanks Jere. Talked to Tom Cross's brother briefly tonight and he unfortunately reported his brothers inclination is most likely to vote for this proposition.

 

[smokinbodybuilder]

At this rate you will have to go to a drug dealer to buy tobacco

 

[kockroach]

Sounds like this bullshit increase is getting votes on today. Kept it quiet as best possible to sneak it through without any chance to oppose.

 

[mthhurley]

Does this stupid think have a bill # yet? I can't find it just browsing around. the Legislature bills page.

 

[kockroach]

Sb2194....

 

[mthhurley]

If I'm reading it right, it passed both houses as of today. Scroll all the way to the bottom To see the timeline.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2194&GAID=11&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=58393&SessionID=84&GA=97