Rahm and Chicago Democrats Agree to Give Chicago the Highest Cigarette Tax in America

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has agreed to reduce the size of his proposed cigarette tax increase, but Chicago is still poised to have the highest per-pack tax in the nation.

At the final City Council Finance Committee meeting today before Tuesday's full council vote on the mayor's 2014 spending plan, aldermen reduced the proposed tax hike to 50 cents a pack from 75 cents. Emanuel's staff negotiated the change with aldermen over the weekend.

Even still, Chicago next year would have the highest overall per-pack tax — $7.17 with federal, state and local taxes — in the country if the full council signs off on the tax boost.

The war on working people in Chicago.