Mississippi House Parties split over cigarette tax (Guess which is which)

The Clarion Ledger ^ | April 24, 2004 | By Andy Kanengiser

[WKB]

Mississippi House members delayed until early next week action on a proposed 9-cent per pack tax increase on a pack of cigarettes to pay for the state's nine mental health crisis centers.

Rep. Jim Evans, D-Jackson, a smoker, said Friday he will ask House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, to raise the tax even more to fund health care programs.

"If it's keeping them (crisis centers) closed, or a tax, I'd vote for it,'' said Rep. Bubba Pierce, D-Leakesville, a nonsmoker. "It's unconscionable to have these mental patients in jail cells.''

But many of the 46 Republicans in the 122-member chamber are sticking to their guns and oppose the cigarette tax plan hike that McCoy and other House leaders announced Thursday night.

"A tobacco tax looks a lot like a tax to me,'' said Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune.

Mississippi's 18 cents per pack tax hasn't been raised since 1985. It is among the lowest nationwide. A pack costs $3.

McCoy said his plan would raise $21.9 million for the Department of Mental Health's 16-bed crisis centers in such communities as Corinth, Laurel, Cleveland, Brookhaven, Grenada, Newton and Batesville.

The cigarette tax also would pay for the 24-bed Specialized Treatment Facility in Gulfport that houses emotionally disturbed young people, ages 13 to 20.

On Monday, the House Rules Committee is expected to take up a resolution to allow the chamber to suspend its rules to take up the new legislation.

"I feel smokers are being singled out,'' said Madison resident Sherry Milner, a smoker. "They're grasping at straws. There's a better way to solve it.''

Senate President Pro Tempore Travis Little, R-Corinth, seeks $12.8 million in general funds to pay for facilities at 50 percent capacity. "Both ends (of the Capitol) are committed to getting the crisis centers open.''

But Little doubts the House cigarette tax hike plan would pass in the Senate.

[MeekOneGOP]

Aw, thanks ! ;^)

[Just another Joe]

The sad part is I actually had to read the article first because I couldn't automatically assume it was the Democrats and not the Republicans that wanted to raise taxes on cigarettes.

Me too, qam, me too.