Ban on tobacco sales to minors goes to Illinois governor
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A prohibition on tobacco sales to those under 21 is now under Gov. J.B. Pritzker's consideration.
The Senate voted 39-16 on Thursday to impose the restrictions under legislation known as Tobacco 21. The sponsor is Democratic Sen. Julie Morrison of Deerfield. Her idea is to prevent teenagers from picking up the deadly habit.
A similar plan won legislative approval last year but then-Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed it. Jordan Abudayyeh (ah-boo-DAY-yuh) is spokeswoman for Democrat Pritzker. She would not say whether he will sign the measure but says Pritzker believes that to "build a healthy society we have to work to prevent young people from smoking."
Opponents argue that at 18 people serve in the military, vote and should be able to decide on smoking.
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The bill is HB345