Tobacco 21 bill passed by Illinois Senate

Posted on March 14, 2019

cigarette — *The Illinois Senate passed Tobacoo 21 legislation Thursday, it now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk. (Photo courtesy Flickr/uzi978)*

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Just two days after the Illinois House passed Tobacco 21, the Senate did the same and sent the bill to Gov. JB Pritzker.

While former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill, a Pritzker spokeswoman said the governor wants to keep tobacco away from young people and looks forward to reviewing the bill.

Sales of tobacco and vaping products would be limited to people 21 and over. This is already the law in Chicago and other cities.

State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) said the bill is arbitrary.

“There are only two areas where we draw the line at 21: alcohol, because it is a federal requirement that came down from the federal government; and firearms, because – again – that was a federal requirement that was passed down.

“Tobacco should be 21 as well,” said the sponsor, State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield). “It kills as well.”

Other opponents argued the bill carries no penalty for people under 21 who smoke, but proponents said the bill is for public health, not criminal justice.

HB 345 has passed the Senate, 39-16-1, and awaits the governor’s action.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…