Governor Haley Barbour says he’ll veto cigarette tax, if it passes

The Clarion Ledger ^ | April 26, 2004 | By Emily Wagster Pettus

[WKB]

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour says he will veto a cigarette tax increase if it hits his desk.

“I ran a campaign (and) very emphatically, repeatedly, consistently said that I was against raising anybody’s taxes — whiskey taxes, gambling taxes, cigarette taxes, chewing tobacco taxes, liquor taxes, beer taxes, sales taxes,” Barbour said today. “If you can think of any other taxes, I’m against raising them.”

House leaders are proposing a 9-cent per pack tax increase on cigarettes to pay to open and operate several mental health crisis centers that have been built around the state. Speaker Billy McCoy says the tax would generate $21.9 million a year. Mississippi has charged 18 cents tax per pack of cigarettes since 1985 — one of the lowest rates in the nation.

Barbour is a former Washington lobbyist for tobacco companies. Asked if that influenced his opposition to a cigarette tax increase, he said: “My thoughts on that are influenced by the fact that raising taxes is the enemy of controlling spending.” Barbour spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Capitol press corps and Mississippi State University’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government. McCoy, D-Rienzi, said later at the Capitol that he’s not bothered by Barbour planning to veto a cigarette tax bill.

“As the House of Representatives moves and evolves through a legislative session, we make decisions based on testimony that we see and hear,” McCoy said. He said the House will vote “at the proper time” on a resolution allowing a cigarette tax bill to be filed. Because the normal bill-filing deadlines have passed, both the House and the Senate must give two-thirds approval for a bill to be written. It would then take three-fifths majorities to pass a tax increase. Overriding a governor’s veto takes a two-thirds majority.

Barbour said he doesn’t think there’s enough support in the House and Senate to even send a cigarette tax bill to his desk.

Also Monday, the governor said he will not veto a bill that gives salary increases to sheriffs and other counties officials. He said he would have preferred a bill that gave discretion to the counties rather than mandating the increases.

The bill, approved by both chambers last Friday, gives 20 percent raises to sheriffs, supervisors and other county officials. The raises for most positions would be mandatory, but supervisors would have to vote to accept their own raise. It would be the county officials’ first raise in eight years.

[dixiechick2000]

"I" have great aspirations for HRB.
(Haley Reese Barbour)."



Awww...I thought the HRB stood for
His Royal Barbourness. ;o)
I would welcome him holding high office
in the administration elected in 2008.
In fact, I would be tickled pink...

[onyx]

Awww...I thought the HRB stood for
His Royal Barbourness. ;o)




LOL!
You sure someone else hasn't
gotten into your head? I mean,
the surname initial fits him also. :)

[dixiechick2000]

"the surname initial fits him also. :)"




LOL! I didn't think of that but,
now that you mention it, he could
use the competition. ;o)

[Mears]

bump

[WKB]

LOL! I didn't think of that but, now that you mention it, he could use the competition. ;o)



Sorry to take so long to reply girls but my mil had surgery
Wed and I have been on the go.

Just one thing DC2K this....this word "competition " I really have never had to deal with that
I am not even sure I know what it means.
Could you elaborate a little on that.

[onyx]

YOU HOO!
dck2
Over here.
We almost missed this!

[dixiechick2000]

Main Entry: com·pe·ti·tion
Pronunciation: "käm-p&-'ti-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin competition-, competitio, from Latin competere
1 : the act or process of competing : RIVALRY: as a : the effort of two or more parties acting independently to secure the business of a third party by offering the most favorable terms b : active demand by two or more organisms or kinds of organisms for some environmental resource in short supply
2 : a contest between rivals; also : one's competitors

It's no wonder that you don't know what it means.
You've never had to face it. ;o)

I hope your MIL is doing well.

[onyx]

It's no wonder that you don't know what it means.
You've never had to face it. ;o)








OOOOH, that's perfect.
He better see it.

[cinFLA]

--Please find where L/libertarians advocate the legalization of child porn and post a reference to that. If you can't find one, maybe you should watch what allegations you make.--

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