Higher Cigarette Tax Passes in House Committee

A higher cigarette tax passes the first hurdle in Baton Rouge.

The legislative session’s first revenue raising bill passed out of committee Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie’s measure would raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36 cents per pack to 68 cents — matching the rate in Mississippi. Health advocates lined up to speak in favor. Frances Gilcreast, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, is a former smoker and told the committee about how smoking impacted her life. But Jack Casanova is a cigarette wholesaler and he says such an increase will have an impact on jobs and bring security concerns.

The tax proposal passed on a 11-5 vote. It’s expected to generate an estimated 67-million dollars for the state annually, which could be used towards the one-point-six billion dollar shortfall.