by KYW's Tony Romeo
Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell will propose a dime-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax when he lays out his budget proposals next week.
Governor Rendell has long been advocating for a tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco products. But now, as he tries to figure out how to plug a $2-billion-plus hole in the state's budget, spokesman Chuck Ardo says Rendell will also propose increasing the cigarette tax by ten cents a pack:
“I think it’s in response to the economic crisis and the fact that smokers cost the commonwealth a significant amount of money in health-related expenses.”
The tax increase on cigarettes and the new tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco would each raise about $50 million. The governor has signaled that “revenue enhancements” like the proposed tobacco taxes will be necessary, but he continues to indicate he will not propose hikes in broad-based taxes like the sales and state income taxes.
(File photo)
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