I broke this story in Monday’s Capitol Fax. There’s no mention of that, of course, but here’s the setup for our QOTD…
State leaders are quietly exploring the possibility of doubling Illinois’ cigarette tax to almost $2 a pack in an effort to fund Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s universal health care plan. […]
To pay for the plan, the administration is suggesting a 3 percent tax on businesses that don’t provide health insurance to their employees. But that and other business-tax proposals have hit stiff resistance in the Legislature, and the administration has continued looking around for other funding sources that might be more palatable to lawmakers. […]
“I’m not saying it was our idea, and I don’t know that we’re ready to take a position on it,” [Blagojevich spokesperson Rebecca Rausch] said.
But others close to the negotiations say the administration has specifically brought it up recently, including a mention from Blagojevich himself while talking with lawmakers in his office late last week.
“He said something to that effect while he was rattling off a few things” that could raise money, said state Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield, a key budget negotiator for the House Democratic majority.
It was, indeed, Blagojevich who mentioned the idea.
Question: Could you support a dollar a pack increase on cigarettes to help fund the governor’s health insurance program, as an alternative to the proposed 3 percent payroll tax on businesses that don’t currently provide coverage? Explain.