With the Tuesday filing of the last brief for contesting the constitutionality of the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, West Burlington bar owner Larry Duncan will finally have his day in court. The owner of Otis Campbell’s and Aunt Bea’s has been arguing since before the statewide smoking ban went into effect that it was unconstitutional. He’s also argued he has been denied his day in court since the ban’s July 1, 2008, enactment. ... Jump to full article >>

Thai police have submitted a case to state prosecutors charging that the local arm of Philip Morris, the world’s largest cigarette maker, evaded more than $2 billion in import taxes, an allegation strongly denied by the company. Police Col. Thawatchai Suansida said Thursday that the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, determined that Philip Morris (Thailand) United Co. Ltd. had underreported the value of its imports and underpaid ... Jump to full article >>

August 18, 2009 – SACRAMENTO — Democrats in control of California’s Legislature are looking to raise the state cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack to help raise revenue, according to a report by Legal Newsline. But the plan could collapse if Democrats are unable to muster at least some Republican support, since California requires a two-thirds vote for tax increases, according to the report. Grant Gillham, a veteran political consu ... Jump to full article >>

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Democrats in control of California’s Legislature are pushing to raise the state cigarette tax by $1.50 to help raise revenue amid a historically severe cash crunch. But critics say the plan to raise the state’s tobacco excise tax could collapse if Democrats are unable to muster at least some Republican support since the state constitution requires a two-thirds vote for tax increases. Grant Gillham ... Jump to full article >>

Arkansas Tobacco Control agents have periodically checked retail stores across the Missouri state line from Bella Vista since March 1, when Arkansas raised its cigarette tax by $5.60 per carton, but so far they’ve seen no smuggling of cigarettes. “I’ve not seen anything that looked anywhere close to a misdemeanor or felony,” Bill Holohan told Glenn Redding on Tuesday as the two Arkansas enforcement agents talked in the pa ... Jump to full article >>

When Marianne Jordan, of Norwalk, heard this week that Democrats in the Legislature were once again considering increasing the cigarette tax, she fired off a frustrated letter to her state representatives, asking them to oppose the move. “I think it’s ridiculous,” said Jordan, who estimated she smokes about a half a pack daily. “Even if I didn’t smoke, I’d still think it’s ridiculous.” Earlier this ... Jump to full article >>