For the record, all five Republican commisioners voted against the cigarette tax (so did Forest Claypool, one Democrat I'd actually consider voting for if he manages to beat Stroger in the primary).
And I'd add one more argument against it: lack of transparency. While the country will soon be responsible for nearly 50% of the cigarette tax, the city, state and federal government get a slice too (and if I'm not mistaken so do some of these odd governmental entities like the RTA and MWRD). The average cigarette buyer is more likey to blame the retailer for high cigarette prices than County President John Stroger or Mayor Daley or Governor Blagojovich. And that's just the way the pols like it.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2006-02-10 09:01 pm (UTC)And I'd add one more argument against it: lack of transparency. While the country will soon be responsible for nearly 50% of the cigarette tax, the city, state and federal government get a slice too (and if I'm not mistaken so do some of these odd governmental entities like the RTA and MWRD). The average cigarette buyer is more likey to blame the retailer for high cigarette prices than County President John Stroger or Mayor Daley or Governor Blagojovich. And that's just the way the pols like it.