Virginia Lawmakers Pass Tobacco Tax Increase
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have approved a $1.3
billion tax package that includes an increase in the state's cigarette
tax, the Associated Press reported April 28.
Virginia's tax on cigarettes will increase from 2.5 cents a pack
to 20 cents this year and 30 cents in 2005.
Prior to the bill's passage, Virginia, the first state where colonists
grew tobacco in the early 1600s, and home to tobacco giant Philip
Morris, had the lowest cigarette tax in the nation.
"This is a historic first step," said Donna Reynolds,
spokeswoman for the American Lung Association of Virginia. "Our
goal was 75 cents, which would make Virginia about average, but
we're very happy."
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