Lawmakers discuss raising cigarette tax
Published: January 1, 2009
PROVIDENCE—Rhode Island’s political leaders are considering raising the state’s cigarette tax as they confront a massive budget deficit.
Incoming Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed said officials from the General Assembly and Gov. Don Carcieri’s office have discussed raising the state’s tax of $2.46 per package of cigarettes to a level comparable with Massachusetts.
Massachusetts recently raised its cigarette tax to $2.51 per package to help close a budget deficit there. Connecticut charges a $2 tax on packages of 20 cigarettes and a $2.50 tax on packages of 25 cigarettes.
Paiva-Weed said a final decision has not been made. She said lawmakers would have to consider how a cigarette tax increase would affect retailers.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Don Carcieri declined to comment.
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Raise a tax on cigarettes. I dont know why this state has to pick on smokers and tax the heck out of them. I dont smoke I quit a while ago. But why don’t they raise the tax on all beer and liquors? It seems to always be targeting one majority of people. And when you sit back and look at the long time picture of this, once again the liberals are trying to save us from ourselves by forcing you to stop smoking. I hope everyone in RI quits all at once and lets see who will get hit next when that money is no longer available. RI needs to stop giving money away to freeloaders(You know what division of free state$$$ i’m talking about).
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