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West Virginia House Kills Tobacco Tax Hike

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Update 2:45 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The West Virginia House of Delegates has killed a key tax hike on cigarettes and other tobacco products, stymieing budget negotiations.

The 44-55 vote on Tuesday occurred during the GOP-led Legislature’s seventh day of budget session. Each day of session costs $35,000.

The bill would have raised taxes on cigarettes by 45 cents a pack to $1. It would have also increased taxes on other tobacco products.

Many Democrats and some Republicans opposed the legislation.

A similar version previously passed the Senate.

The tax hikes were expected to raise about $76 million annually.

Lawmakers need to cover a $270 million budget gap. Without a budget plan before July 1, the state would go into a government shutdown.


 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The West Virginia House of Delegates is slated to vote on a key tax hike on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The vote is expected today during the GOP-Led Legislature’s seventh day of budget session. Each day of session costs $35,000.

The bill would raise taxes on cigarettes by 45 cents a pack to $1. It would also increase taxes on other tobacco products.

House delegates on Monday stripped taxes on e-cigarettes and vapor liquid from the bill.

The bill previously passed the Senate.

The tax hikes are expected to raise about $76 million annually.

Lawmakers need to cover a $270 million budget gap. Without a budget plan before July 1, the state would go into a government shutdown.

Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called lawmakers into session May 16.