Most Lawrence lawmakers support cigarette tax
Most Lawrence legislators support a hefty increase in the cigarette tax if it means more money for health care. “If we’re looking at trying to improve the health of individuals and the state, I think we need to look at a tax increase,” said state Sen. Tom Sloan, a Republican. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and several key Republicans have said they will push for health care reform, including a 50-cent per pack increase in the state cigarette tax and an increase in the tax on other tobacco products. Those would raise nearly $70 million annually and help pay for a five-year, $227 million initiative to expand health coverage for Kansans. If enacted, the tax would increase to $1.29 per pack. But many legislative leaders, preparing for the session that starts Monday, have said the proposal is too unpopular to pass in an election year.
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- January 14th
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