Cost Of Cigarettes Could Go Up

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn says it’s time for Illinois lawmakers to “step forward” and rescue the state Medicaid system, even if requires some painful decisions like upping the cost of smokes.

Quinn wants lawmakers to approve his plan for filling a $2.7 billion hole in the Medicaid system. It includes reducing services for the poor, cutting payments to health-care providers and raising cigarette taxes by $1 a pack.

Republicans say they’re flatly opposed to the tax increase. But Quinn noted cigarette taxes were raised several times under past Republican governors.