(Springfield, IL) – Illinois’ leading drug and alcohol treatment and prevention advocates today called on state lawmakers to increase the state’s alcohol tax by a 5¢ drink.
This move would raise $250 million for cash-strapped Illinois and restore $12.9 million cut from addiction healthcare services in Governor Pat Quinn‘s proposed FY 2010 budget.
Listen to podcast: IADDA CEO Sara Moscato Howe on 5¢ a Drink Tax
Posted by Jud DeLoss on April 21, 2009
https://ilabh.net/2009/04/21/podcast-%e2%80%9c5%c2%a2-a-drink%e2%80%9d-alcohol-tax-pushed-to-reverse-quinn-cuts-to-drug-alcohol-treatment-help-plug-illinois-budget-hole/
(Springfield, IL) – Illinois’ leading drug and alcohol treatment and prevention advocates today called on state lawmakers to increase the state’s alcohol tax by a 5¢ drink.
This move would raise $250 million for cash-strapped Illinois and restore $12.9 million cut from addiction healthcare services in Governor Pat Quinn‘s proposed FY 2010 budget.
IADDA CEO Sara Moscato Howe
“A nickel a drink increase will raise $250 million to help offset the budget deficit and restore budget cuts to addiction healthcare services,” said Sara Moscato Howe, (above) CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA).
“We recognize Illinois faces tough economic problems, but in these times more people turn to drugs and alcohol and treatment must be available.”
“We are calling on Speaker Michael Madigan, House Minority Leader Tom Cross, Senate President John Cullerton, and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno to raise revenue and to restore cuts made to treatment services by passing a nickel-a-drink alcohol tax increase.”
Howe also noted alcohol abuse and drunk driving continue to exact a terrible, deadly toll on youth and children in communities throughout Illinois.
Recent media reports of drug and alcohol-related driving tragedies reinforce the need for adequately funding the state’s addiction healthcare system.
Howe also noted an Illinois Department of Human Services study revealed that in 2006 nearly 40 percent of Illinois 12th graders had ridden in a car with a drunk or high teenager in the last year and 30 percent had the same experience with a drunk or high adult.
Lawmakers return to Springfield on April 21 to continue work on the state budget.
Posted by Jud DeLoss on April 15, 2009
https://ilabh.net/2009/04/15/%e2%80%9c5%c2%a2-a-drink%e2%80%9d-alcohol-tax-pushed-to-reverse-quinn-cuts-to-drug-alcohol-treatment-help-plug-illinois-budget-hole/
The Capitol Fax Blog
Illinois Association for Behavioral Health News Blog 