**6:01p.m.**
The S.C. senate just passed the cigarette tax increase bill 30-11. The bill would raise the cigarette tax by $0.50 each pack, with the money going to health care for low-income families. The bill still has to go back to the House for final approval.
The state Senate is debating a tax increase of $0.50 each pack. The Senate defeated an amendment Tuesday that would have raised the tax to nearly $1.00.
Debate in the Senate is expected to resume Wednesday.
South Carolina has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation, at $0.07 each pack. If passed, the tax increase could bring $159 million dollars to fund medicaid and private health insurance programs for low-income families in the state.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement