South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell said a new federal cigarette tax approved Wednesday will not change his plans to push an increase in South Carolina’s lowest-in-the-nation tax on tobacco.That could mean state smokers could pay $1.12 more a pack if lawmakers and Gov. Mark Sanford approve a state increase.Advocates for raising the tax were worried a federal increase might derail the multiyear push to raise S.C.’s tax, as manufacturers and opponents said raising the tax disproportionately affects low-income residents who smoke at higher rates. But Harrell said legislative consensus remains strong for a 50-cent a pack hike.“I don’t think so,” Harrell said when asked if the 62-cent federal tax increase would have an impact. “I think there’s a lot of people in the state that want to see us deal with the cigarette tax. So I still think it will be debated and dealt with this year.”The third question of the tax debate — how to spend the money — remains undecided. After the bill was vetoed last year, Harrell promised a bill would pass the House this year.
|
