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* You can’t legally drink until you’re 21, so Ambassador McCarter’s logic is a bit off, unless he wants to lower that age threshold, too. I don’t recall him introducing such a bill, but I could be wrong…
The Illinois Senate on Wednesday voted to raise the minimum age to buy cigarettes, vaping devices and other tobacco products from 18 to 21, amid personal pleas from supporters who have lost loved ones to smoking or are struggling to quit. […]
Opponents including Sen. Kyle McCarter contended that while the dangers of smoking are well-documented, 18-year-olds can make decisions for themselves. He noted that’s the threshold for voting and serving in the military. […]
“I started smoking when I was 19. It’s a dirty habit, a habit I wish I would not have picked up. But we all know where I got it from,” [Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago] said to laughs. His father, former Senate President Emil Jones Jr., used to bum smokes on the Senate floor from fellow lawmakers.
He used to bum them off me, too, before I quit.
* More from that debate…
“I hope in the future that you remember this day and that you’ll remember about health as you vote on legalization of marijuana,” state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, said. “Because my firefighter friend here says that all smoke in your lungs is bad for you.”
And yet after all his concern about the lungs of pot smokers, Sen. Bivins voted to allow 18-20 year-olds to continue smoking cigarettes. I suppose this means my pal Tim is gonna vote for legalized marijuana, particularly since edibles and vaping are viable options. /s
* I wonder what’ll happen to this bill in the House, where a large faction of Democrats staunchly oppose any penalty enhancement proposals…
Inmates who repeatedly expose themselves while in custody would have to register as sex offenders under a plan that is moving in Springfield.
The measure was proposed by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who oversees the County Jail where indecent and lewd behavior by detainees has become a significant problem. Since the start of last year, there have been more than 620 incidents of indecent exposure and lewd conduct by jail detainees, according to a news release from Dart’s office.
The Illinois Senate advanced the bill Wednesday, less than six months after female assistant public defenders filed a lawsuit alleging authorities have not done enough to stop male detainees from exposing themselves, masturbating and threatening the attorneys in courtroom lockups and the county jail. A judge later ordered further precautions be taken to prevent such behavior.
The bill would require that jail detainees and prison inmates register as sex offenders upon their second conviction for indecent exposure in a penal institution.
* Other bills…
* Legislation that would have allowed third party vendors access to business financial records defeated in House: “This bill would expose (businesses’) private tax information to a third party that is incentivized to find new tax liabilities,” said Mark Grant, president of the National Federation of Independent Business’ Illinois chapter.
* McHenry County township consolidation bill likely to reach governor’s desk
* Editorial: Everybody wants fair maps. Right?
* Illinois lawmakers studying local public safety pension consolidation
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:01 pm
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I hope this passes
Too many 18 year olds have friends that are younger and buy the cigarettes and e cig
Too addicting and bad for health to make it that easy for younger immature kids to get hands on
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:10 pm
I don’t want anyone to smoke, but I’m also not in favor of criminalizing more youthful behaviors.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:34 pm
===not in favor of criminalizing more youthful behaviors===
The bill focuses on retailers.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:44 pm
It leaves out young people? If they are stopped and searched or observed on the street there is no penalty?
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:56 pm
I favor one marker for entry into adulthood.
If you’re old enough to kill and be killed overseas serving in the armed forces, then you’re old enough to decide if you want a beer and a smoke, too.
Otherwise, stop sending those you consider to be children to serve in the armed forces.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 1:58 pm
Seems like kind of an unnecessary cheapshot on McCarter by Rich, to say that you have to introduce a bill lowering the drinking age in order to vote against raising the smoking age above the military service and voting age.
Comment by AndyIllini Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:01 pm
Apparently they’re not raising the smoking age. They are raising the buying age in Illinois but young people can still smoke. Which is a good compromise, because it will be harder to smoke but young people won’t be harassed by police.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:06 pm
AndyIllini, it’s not a cheap shot. It’s logical. If he really feels that way and isn’t just fronting for big tobacco or IRMA, then why not follow through?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:12 pm
Just plain not right.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:32 pm
Merchants of Death; the American tobacco industry by Larry C. White, chronicles the immoral behavior and criminal actions of the tobacco industry.
Raising the tobacco age may result in a one third reduction in new smokers. Hope this becomes law. Not just in Illinois, but a national federal effort.
Comment by Al Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:37 pm
Anything to help reduce the spreading of this nasty unhealthy habit is better than nothing.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:42 pm
Rich, do Senators and Representatives introduce legislation for everything they support? For all we know he does support lowering the drinking age, he has never as far as I know been required to come out one way or the other on that. He did here, because it vame for a vote, and he explained his vote to his constituents, like he should have. His vote is consistent with his small government, low regulation ideology he’s consistently backed. That doesn’t make him right, and I dont think it’s a proposed law as I understand it, but it’s not hypocritical or inconsistent of him.
Comment by AndyIllini Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:47 pm
I don’t think it’s a bad* proposed law…
Comment by AndyIllini Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 2:48 pm
AndyIllini, don’t be a snowflake.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 3:00 pm
I think lawmakers should look into a smoke-tax on marijuana to try and shift the market towards safer ingestion methods early.
Comment by Timmeh Thursday, Apr 26, 18 @ 4:10 pm