Emanuel agrees to cut cigarette tax increase to 50 cents per pack

Chicago Sun Times ^ | November 25, 2013 | FRAN SPIELMAN

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Mayor Rahm Emanuel agreed Monday to shave a quarter off his 75-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes to appease African-American aldermen concerned about the illegal sale of loose cigarettes.

The decision to reduce the tax from 75 cents a pack to 50 cents continues Emanuel’s pattern of tinkering at the margins of his city budgets to appease critics without giving away too much.............

........Last week, the mayor appeared to slam the door on compromise. He called the 75-cents-a-pack increase that would have left Chicago with the nation’s highest combined state and local tax on cigarettes a “health care feat” on par with his prior contributions to children’s health care.

........Even at a 50-cent increase, the combined tax of $7.17 will still be the nation’s highest, 31 cents higher than New York City’s $6.86 a pack.

“I believe, as Dr. Choucair testified, it’s the right thing to do as a public health initiative to protect those from starting smoking. And it’s right to use the resources to protect our kids [by] enrolling them in Medicaid and getting free eye care and eye exams,” the mayor said then.

But even as the mayor spoke, the behind-the-scenes lobbying continued — by convenience store owners, African-American aldermen and by members of the mayor’s own staff.

They argued that Emanuel needed to throw his critics a bone to show that he is flexible and open to dissent.

They argued that the 25-cents-a-pack reduction would cost the city just $3 million but mean a lot to African-American aldermen who represent wards where the street corner sale of loose cigarettes is already worse than it is for illegal drugs. It would also mean a lot to retailers who fear losing more than $5 a customer in ancillary sales tied to cigarette purchases........

[Paladin2]

Chicago should just tax Rahm’s and Oprah’s wealth. That would fic things.

[Paladin2]

Chicago should just tax Rahm’s and Oprah’s wealth. That would fix things.

[glorgau]

The South side of Chicago adjoins Indiana. What a misguided tax that will offer incentives for smuggling.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Wait until these Chicago minorities sign up for health care as smokers. It’ll be 5 times as expensive and then they’ll tell Rahm where to put that quarter. The fun is just beginning.

[what's up]

A new tax on the poorest of the poor.

Nice guys, these liberals.

[AppyPappy]

Nah, make it a dollar. Let’s hammer the poor as much as possible.

[Impy]

Mayor Rahm Emanuel agreed Monday to shave a quarter off his 75-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes to appease African-American aldermen concerned about the illegal sale of loose cigarettes.

More like concerned that their menthol loving constituents will be po'ed at them.

[funfan]

Maybe they will want to play a “Game” with him.

[ColdOne]

He probably asked for 75 cents a pack so 50 cent a pack would sound good.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

A million dollar education, one cold quarter at a time.

[concerned about politics]

Even at a 50-cent increase, the combined tax of $7.17 will still be the nation’s highest

Geeze! How much money do they get from those EBT cards, anyway? They'll have to sell a lot of obomaphones to keep up with a tax increase like that.

[elkfersupper]

The facts that we have a guy known as Barack Hussein Obama as President of these United States and a guy named Rahm Emanuel as Mayor of Chicago embarrasses me.

I keep hoping that I will awaken from a long sleep and find that none of this is true.

However, I know that we all must keep living the nightmare.

[GeronL]

In other words this news article is going to pretend that a 50 cent increase is really a 25 cent cut?

[bgill]

One would think twinkletoes had more pressing matters to deal with like, oooh I dunno, gang violence.

[traderrob6]

I live in Illinois and quit smoking 3 months ago. As much to withhold paying these criminals there exorbinate tax as for my health.

[BipolarBob]

The Missouri-to-Chicago cigarette run should be more profitable with each tax increase. AND just in time for the holidays. Thanks Emanuel.

[jimsin]

'I live in Illinois and quit smoking 3 months ago. As much to withhold paying these criminals there exorbinate tax as for my health.'

A TWO FER....TR

A BOGO...SO TO SPEAK.

MUY BUENO ON YER BUENO....

STILL THE DEMS COULD CERTAINLY FIND GOOD USES FOR THAT MONEY...AND I THINK IT'S NOT SUCH A BAD THING THAT YOU CONTINUE YER HABIT IN ORDER TO MAKE LIFE BETTER AND MORE ABUNDANT FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN.....

TO DOWNTROD OR NOT TO DOWNTROD...THAT IS THE QUESTION...

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous LUNG CANCER,

Or to take arms against THE GHOULISH DEMS,

SMOKE MORE GLORIOUS CIGGYS AND THEN To die: to SLEEP...'

.....W. SHAKESPEARE

'JUST SAYIN'

[ObamahatesPACoal]

This makes him a DINO apparently.

[neocon1984]

Good for you. I quit 30 years ago, mostly for health reasons, but as the tax thing has increased, I am increasingly happy - more money to spend on quality Irish Whiskey.

-ex life long Chicagoan.