ILLINOIS (WAND) – A bill to raise the tobacco buying age to 21 failed to pass the Illinois House.
The measure had 62 yes votes and 45 no votes but needed nine more to pass the House, failing to overturn a veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner. It went through the Senate with a 36-19 majority earlier in November.
People in Illinois have to be at least 18 to buy tobacco products.
Rauner said he vetoed the bill because the change would “inhibit the choice of consumers” while still not stopping young people from getting their hands on tobacco. He said they would just get tobacco products from other states.
A total of 11 lawmakers in the House did not vote on the tobacco bill.
>>Related: Bill to raise tobacco purchase age to 21 passes Senate
