The Post and Courier reports: Tax increase may be stubbed out

Vote by Senate panel ignites debate that's likely to delay proposals until January

South Carolina smokers probably won't have to pay an extra 50 cents for a pack of cigarettes this year, thanks to a legislative battle that's broken out in the session's final days.

And because of that same conflict, low-income workers probably won't get help this year paying for health insurance.

"The cigarette tax proposals may be delayed until January with no clear-cut agreement over how to spend the money," said Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau. "It's a straight-up tax increase."

A decision Thursday by the Senate Finance Committee opens up a major fight on the Senate floor that likely won't be resolved with only six legislative days left before the anticipated summer adjournment.

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The Greenville News reports: Bill to raise cigarette taxes goes to Senate floor

A bill to raise the tax on cigarettes by 50 cents per pack was sent to the Senate floor this morning (Thursday, May 7, 2009) but without any plan to spend the revenue.

The 16-5 vote by the Senate Finance Committee comes two days after the panel deadlocked on the issue over disagreement on how to spend the money.

The panel this morning specified only that $5 million be spent for lung cancer research at the Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston. The remainder of the projected $144 million to be collected beginning July 1 would go into a trust fund.

Lawmakers would decide later how the funds would be spent.

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The State reports: Committee OK's 50-cent hike to SC cigarette tax

South Carolina's cigarette tax would increase by 50-cents per pack under a plan advancing through the Legislature.

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday voted 16-5 to raise the nation's lowest per pack tax from 7 cents to 57 cents.

The nod came after lawmakers scrapped plans to use the $145 million that would be raised by the tax to set up a new health insurance program for the state's low-income residents.

Instead, much of the money would go to a trust fund for future health care needs. Some $5 million would go to a cancer research center at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

South Carolina's cigarette tax hasn't been increased since 1977.

The Boston Herald reports: Cancer sidelines Jerry Remy, voice of Red Sox

Jerry Remy, the voice of the Red Sox [team stats] for more than 20 years, is fighting the aftereffects of lung cancer and will be out of the broadcast booth indefinitely.

Remy underwent surgery late last year, NESN revealed yesterday, and has since battled an infection and pneumonia.

On his Twitter site, Remy said he suffered his setback as he left for spring training. “In hindsight, it was a mistake to go and I am paying the price for it now,” he wrote.

He added he’ll be back in time “to take the team all the way to the 2009 World Series.”

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The State reports: Backlog may snuff cigarette tax hike

Advocates of raising the state’s lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax are worried a legislative backlog could prevent the bill from becoming law until the Legislature returns next year.

The Senate Finance Committee today is expected to vote on the plan, which would raise the tax by 50 cents a pack. The $139 million the tax is expected to raise would help employers purchase health insurance for low-income employees, or for those employees to purchase insurance directly.

The bill has widespread support, but lawmakers said the delays over payday lending, stimulus money and other legislation mean the cigarette tax might run out of time this session.

“It’s a very real possibility,” said Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee. “It’s not an impossible jump, but there’s a lot of things ahead of it.”

Peeler said he has heard little opposition to the bill so far. Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee and chairman of the subcommittee studying the bill, expected minor changes to the House plan.

Lawmakers said one change would use tax revenue to fund the Hollings Cancer Center and another amendment might change the way smokeless tobacco products are taxed.

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