Cigarette tax passes in House
The tobacco industry has dumped all sorts of money into South Carolina over the past few years to put the kibosh on raising the cigarette tax in this state, which has led to some truly idiotic statements by the S.C. Policy Council, Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster and the child. At least some smarter people — among them, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell — prevailed, and a vote to remove the 30-cent tax increase from the state budget failed 106-12.
South Carolina’s 7 cents-per-pack cigarette tax is the nation’s lowest and has not changed since 1977. A 30-cent increase would make the tax equal to Georgia’s and still 8 cents-per-pack cheaper than North Carolina’s. Nationwide, the average state cigarette tax is $1.34 per pack, with Rhode Island ranking first at $3.46.
Hopefully the Senate will go along with the proposal, and South Carolina can move on from yet another national embarrassment.
Harrell’s a Rino. I think they should tax left wing websites also.
Cigarettes are the one thing I think we ought to tax the hell out of. $5 a pack works for me. I’d feel bad for the tobacco farmers but they should have seen that one coming a mile off.