House passes $1.00 cigarette tax increase

By Natalie Chandler • natalie.chandler@clarionledger.com • February 21, 2008

Seventy-four lawmakers supported House Bill 1013, while 42 opposed it. The bill needed 70 votes to pass. It now heads to the Senate for approval, but the legislation faces hurdles there.The state’s 18-cent cigarette tax is among the lowest in the nation. House Bill 1013 would raise it to $1.18. Medicaid needs millions of dollars to continue serving citizens. If funding is not found, cuts in services will be required, officials have said.GOP Gov. Haley Barbour wants to tax hospitals instead. But several House Democrats argued that tax would be passed on to patients.

Full Article: House passes cigarette tax hike bill