House Delays $1 Cigarette Tax Until Next Week | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

House Delays $1 Cigarette Tax Until Next Week

photo

House Speaker Billy McCoy adjourned the chamber without voting on the tobacco tax increase.

The Mississippi House of Representatives will not consider passing a tobacco tax increase until the House reconvenes 4 p.m. Monday. Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee approved House Bill 364, which would raise the excise tax on cigarettes from 18 cents per pack to $1 per pack. The tax hike does not apply to cigars or other tobacco products. The House a adjourned Friday morning without considering HB 364.

A longtime opponent of a cigarette tax-increase, Gov. Haley Barbour has indicated that he would now support recently changed positions. He has called for a smaller increase, however, of 24 cents for premium brands and 43 cents for brands not covered by the state's tobacco company lawsuit settlement.

Previous Comments

ID
142802
Comment

Barbour has fought a long hard fight to keep the comforts coming for the tobacco industry. This is the price an X-Lobbyist must pay. You can't be a cross bearer for your tobacco rich buddies and carry a banner for the citizens of the state.

Author
justjess
Date
2009-01-09T14:30:00-06:00

Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.