Aldermen: Tax cigars, chewing tobacco to reduce budget cuts - Chicago Sun-Times

Aldermen: Tax cigars, chewing tobacco to reduce budget cuts - Chicago Sun-Times


Can anyone explain how these two products were never considered when politicians went on a cigarette warpath? WTF? It's 2011 and all of a sudden we have this spectacular brain fart? This should have been done years ago.

You politicians sit there, and give away our hard earned revenue to companies that don't come close to deserving it. Then you turn around, scream the city is broke. You then slash programs, cut funding, pick on police, fire, and teachers, while these crooks at "Financial Companies" get reduced taxes just to stay here, and contribute nothing to our society? Something is wrong with this picture. I'm very curious to see the amount of property taxes paid by CME, and compare that to ALL homeowners. I think my jaw may have to be surgically replaced.

Look, I have zero problem with you guys, and gals taxing the hell out of smokes, but when did you come to the realization cigars, and chew was slipping under the radar? Were you in a coma? Please, go right ahead and tax it. But you better start having a serious discussion on legalizing, and regulating marijuana if you ever want to get your bad math budgets in order. You don't give away surplus funds to companies that don't need, or deserve them. You use that surplus by re-investing in our roads, transit, schools, police, fire, and teachers.

Bottom line, imagine how many affordable housing units 700 million bucks could build for our returning, homeless, and current veterans? Yes, this, and other good math things, should have been done years ago. WTF!