Taxpayers Prevail, Defeat Sneaky Tobacco Tax Grab,

Illinois Chapter of Americans for Prosperity Says

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity today hailed the defeat of Senate Bill 0716 as a taxpayer victory. The bill would have allowed Illinois’ counties to impose up to a $2.00 tax per pack of cigarettes at will without voter approval. Americans for Prosperity – Illinois State Director Joe Calomino issued the following statement:

“Over the past month and a half Americans for Prosperity – Illinois and our 4,000-plus grassroots members have been writing letters to the editor, and making phone calls to our lawmakers to stop this sneaky tobacco tax grab. Today, taxpayers prevailed when the Illinois State Senate refused to sneak behind voters backs to feed county officials’ addiction to our tax dollars.

“Americans for Prosperity applauds the Illinois Senate leadership for not calling this bill up for a vote during the lame duck session and encourages all lawmakers to spend our tax dollars responsibly.

“Politicians tried to convince taxpayers that this devious tax hike would only affect smokers, but Illinois citizens correctly recognized that tobacco tax hikes are the gateway drug to out-of-control spending. Giving county officials the authority to hike tobacco taxes would not have fixed any fiscal woes. Our state and local officials must first end their addiction to our tax dollars before fiscal problems can be solved.

“Americans for Prosperity will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility and against unnecessary tax hikes. We will work day and night to ensure that local and state officials are held accountable for how they spend our tax dollars, especially before they pick our pockets for more of our money.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.afpil.org

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