Mississippi: Barbour Signs Cigarette Tax

[brooklynite]

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/14brfs-BARBOURSIGNS_BRF.html?ref=us

Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican and a former tobacco lobbyist long opposed to raising Mississippi’s cigarette tax, relented in the face of slumping budget revenues and signed the state’s first increase in nearly a quarter century. The state’s 18-cents-a-pack excise tax had not changed since 1985. On Friday, it rises to 68 cents a pack. Mississippi becomes the latest state to make smokers pay more to increase finances during a recession. Mr. Barbour signed the legislation as Mississippi struggles with an estimated revenue shortfall of $400 million for the year that ends June 30. The tax is estimated to generate more than $113 million for the year that begins July 1.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/14brfs-BARBOURSIGNS_BRF.html?ref=us

---

Tax and Spend! Tax and Spend!

[ck4829]

1. Tax and Spend! Tax and Spend!

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Even the cost of killing yourself has gone up.

When will this end?

:banghead:

[Winterblues]

3. I don't get it, I thought Republicans believed the ONLY way to raise money was to CUT taxes..

Is this an admission that cutting taxes is not the way to help the people?