They stand waiting at the Manna House for a free lunch. They wait outside the Salvation Army for bed. Some don’t know where their next dollar is coming from. The cigarettes smoking between their fingers suggests how some spent their money. And now, some Georgia legislators want to get even more. A $1 tax on each pack of cigarettes would raise $354 million a year to help plug a big budget hole, they say. Others say no tax is a good tax. Wit ... Jump to full article >>

A leading Republican candidate for governor said Monday he would not support raising South Carolina’s cigarette tax – the nation’s lowest – under any conditions. Attorney General Henry McMaster, spurred by a weekend of back-and-forth discussion on the issue with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Rex, said Monday he would not support raising the tax, spokesman Rob Godfrey said. Rex has proposed raising the tax by $1.2 ... Jump to full article >>

For years, buying low-tax North Carolina cigarettes and selling them on the black market in a high-tax state up north has been an easy way to make big money for criminal enterprises. Load up a van of Camels or Marlboros and reap a $100,000 profit to sell them if the destination is New York City, which has a $1.50-per-pack excise tax in addition to the $2.75 state cigarette tax. “The cigarette tax evasion stampede is out of control,” ... Jump to full article >>

New Mexico smokers could soon be shelling out more money for cigarettes if a group of democratic lawmakers get their way with a plan to raise the tobacco tax. A pack of smokes could cost a dollar more if a pair of veteran lawmakers can convince enough of their colleagues that a tobacco tax hike would be good for the state’s bank account as well as public health. Right now the cigarette tax is 91 cents a pack, though it would rise to $1.91 ... Jump to full article >>

Bulgarian smokers will have to swallow a raise in excise duties on cigarettes and their prices as of January 1, as the government struggles to curb smoking and relieve the health care system. Under a decision that the parliament took at the end of November, a BGN 101 excise duty for 1000 cigarettes is introduced instead of the previous BGN 41, while the proportional tax is 23% of the sales price instead of 40,5%. The latter will affect mostly ex ... Jump to full article >>

How the restaurant and bar smoking ban will affect restaurant or tobacco revenues is unclear. Other states with similar bans say business falls off, then resumes without a haze. Prevention Partners say the Jan. 2, 2010 ban, and the state and federal tax hike in 2009 will keep an estimated 89,000 children a year from starting to smoke tobacco. Added to a state tobacco-free schools and hospitals law already in place, this new smoking ban prompted ... Jump to full article >>

Louisiana has ranked dead last 16 out of the 19 years the United Health Foundation has conducted its annual state health rankings. While it may not have been a cause to celebrate, Louisiana’s jump from 49 to 47 in the group’s 2009 report gave many a reason to hope. “A lot of things people thought were not possible in Louisiana are suddenly possible,” said Dr. Charlie Brown, chairman of the steering committee for the Louisiana Campaign fo ... Jump to full article >>

Move would need change in state law. Revenue to benefit arts, cultural groups Summit County Council wants to seek a special cigarette tax to raise money for local arts and cultural organizations. Council on Monday night passed a resolution asking the Ohio General Assembly to amend state law to allow the county to place the tax before voters. The details, including the amount of the tax, haven’t been worked out and the proposal faces many ... Jump to full article >>

The smoking ban that takes effect in Virginia restaurants today resulted from “an accidental stroke of genius” on his part, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Monday. The General Assembly approved the ban on smoking in most restaurants after several key legislators had voted against a Kaine-proposed tax on cigarettes last winter. The tax proposal itself was just a political maneuver, Kaine told The News & Advance’s editorial board Monday. He ... Jump to full article >>

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A new report shows Missouri ranking high nationwide in the percentage of smokers and low in the size of its cigarette tax. State Auditor Susan Montee compiled national rankings of states to show how Missouri rates in more than two dozen categories, including the economy, education, health, crime and transportation. Missouri is neither best nor worst in anything. But it does have the second lowest cigarette tax, at 17 ... Jump to full article >>