State Rep. Tony McCombie
State Rep. Tony McCombie
State Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) urged the House to not pass a bill that will decriminalize possession of tobacco products for individuals under the age of 21.
House Bill 345 raises the age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, but it also decriminalizes possession of tobacco products for those under 21.
"Absolutely smoking kills — it killed both of my parents," McCombie said on the House floor. "But nothing I could do or say would’ve got them to stop smoking. A bill like this would’ve never gotten them to stop smoking as a child."
McCombie questioned why the bill decriminalized possession, to which Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) said that there was no evidence that criminalizing it would stop anyone from smoking.
"What about the loss of revenue? It could be up to $40 million. How do we raise that?" McCombie questioned. "I understand and respect your position, but we have got to stop chipping away at our personal liberties."
The bill passed the House 82-31 and went on to the Senate.
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