Harrell proposes 50-cent hike in cigarette tax
House speaker Bobby Harrell has introduced a bill to raise the state's cigarette tax by 50 cents, with the proceeds going to help small businesses and low-income workers to buy health insurance.
Harrell allowed a similar bill to die last year when he pushed the House to uphold a veto by Gov. Mark Sanford. The governor wants an increase in the cigarette tax to help pay for the elimination of corporate income taxes.
"This plan will directly reduce the number of uninsured workers in our state," Harrell said in a release. Providing obtainable access to private sector health care coverage will greatly increase the quality of life for those newly insured and create a better future for our state as a whole. Government can help provide solutions, but more government is not the answer to our problems."
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