House overrides Sanford's cigarette tax veto
Senate must also vote to override to make it law
By Yvonne Wenger
Updated 02:01 p.m., May 12, 2010
COLUMBIA — South Carolina smokers are one vote away from paying 50 cents more for a pack of cigarettes.
The House voted 90-29 today to override the governor’s veto on the cigarette tax. The Senate must also vote to override the veto, or the legislation is dead for the year. The margin of votes in the Senate suggests that an override is likely, and the law would then take effect immediately. A pack of cigarettes would cost 50 cents more after July 1.
The state has the lowest tax in the nation at 7 cents a pack. Legislators from border counties fought to sustain Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto out of fear it will harm the competitiveness of South Carolina convenience store.
The tax, if it passes, will raise $136 million, most of which would be used to fund future Medicaid obligations.
Rep. Anne Peterson Hutto, D-Charleston, said the majority of South Carolina voters want a cigarette tax increase. She said it will stop children from starting.
“This should be an easy vote for everybody,” Hutto said. “If you’re doing what the people want, what can be wrong with that?”
The Senate is expected to take up the vote to override the veto on Thursday.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Notice about comments:Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full Terms and Conditions.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Shared
- Upper King on rise: Hotels, apartments, restaurants changing face of downtown area
- Missing woman case gets murkier
- Missing woman's fiance found dead in his home
- Isle of Palms wants to patch beach
- Advocating for cyclists
- Body of missing woman's fiance was found near handgun
- DAVID SLADE: S.C. offers hybrid car tax credit
- Facebook posts may cost you a job
- Pinterest: Pinning hopes and dreams
- Boeing powering up first local jet
