One interesting tax measure presently being tackled by the House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas of Batangas is the excise tax on cigarettes. A number of bills have already been filed to change the existing cigarette excise tax structure, and several groups are supporting this initiative to generate more revenues for the government as well as to discourage smoking. At the same time, opposing legislators fi ... Jump to full article >>

FORT HALL, Idaho — The state Legislature is considering raising its tax on cigarettes by $1.25 per pack, but some lawmakers are trying to extend the tax to reservations as well. The Sho-Ban tribe said the proposal came out of nowhere, and a state-enforced tax would hurt their local revenue. LeeAnn Avila works for the Fort Hall Health Education Department. Her boss, Rebecca Washikie, said that a state-enforced tobacco tax could potentially ... Jump to full article >>

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A funding gap for public retiree health care is prompting West Virginia lawmakers to consider raising tobacco taxes and capping retiree subsidies. A Senate bill introduced Monday also aims to ease concerns that prompted county school boards to sue unsuccessfully over retiree costs last year. The measure focuses on other post-employment benefits, or OPEB. West Virginia estimates it lacks nearly $7 billion of what it̵ ... Jump to full article >>

Legislation raising tobacco taxes is expected to face more debate today, but despite early optimism Tuesday, there is no consensus on how high the tax should be and how the money should be spent. Negotiations between House and Senate leaders that had appeared promising ended with no agreement Tuesday. Senate leaders had warmed to a bigger increase than they had previously wanted, but changed their minds after learning the state may receive money ... Jump to full article >>

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Making smokers pay $1 more per pack for cigarettes would help West Virginia save lives, rein in medical costs and could raise revenue for substance-abuse services, public health advocates told lawmakers Wednesday. At a Capitol hearing, nearly 30 people spoke out about a proposal (HB2973) to raise the state’s cigarette tax from 55 cents to $1.55. Most spoke in favor of the legislation. Opponents included business o ... Jump to full article >>

CHARLESTON — Health advocates and industry leaders lined up Wednesday to both praise and denounce an attempt to impose huge taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. A packed House chamber lent itself to a hearing on HB2973, which would elevate the tax on cigarettes from 55 cents to $1.55 per pack. Spit tobacco would jump from 7 percent of the wholesale price to 50 percent. One in four West Virginians lights up regularly, and 22 percent of hi ... Jump to full article >>

CHARLESTON – Bills being introduced in the West Virginia Legislature would put a $1 tax hike on a pack of cigarettes. However, some local legislators are doubtful the bills will make it to a full vote. Senate Bill 362 and House Bill 2973 would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 55 cents to $1.55 and would raise the tax on smokeless tobacco from seven to 50 percent of the wholesale price of each item. The tax is expected to bring in ... Jump to full article >>

The state House and Senate health committees are considering bills that would increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1, and a fight is already brewing over how to spend that new revenue. It’s not clear if there are enough votes in either chamber to pass the tax — especially in what’s now an election year — but lawmakers and lobbyists are eyeing how to spend the $120 million to $160 million a year the tax would bring. The pr ... Jump to full article >>

BLUEFIELD — Legislation pending in the House and Senate would increase West Virginia’s excise tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack, creating a new revenue source for the Mountain State but also causing potential problems for retailers living in border communities such as Bluefield. “I just think, and again I relate it as such to the gasoline tax, I think it would just encourage folks who are going to use those products to purchase them certain ... Jump to full article >>

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Walk into any store to see what current cigarette smokers live with every day — sticker shock. Partly because of rising taxes, one pack of cigarettes can now cost more than $7. But now, one Northwest company seems to have found a way around some of the highest taxes simply by changing the way they sell tobacco. At D-I-Y Tobacco, the goal is to have customers do it all themselves. The Port Orchard, Wash., compan ... Jump to full article >>