Cigarette

government- and taxes on food and cigarettes. santa fe bureau chief gadi schwartz is live at the roundhouse with what’s going on right now. gadi. no break for lawmakers as they round the final stretch. both the house and senate now have passed their versions of how to balance next years budget. and when it comes to taxes- and cutting- they are very different. today the senate passed a budget fix that would rely on a 1 dollar a pack cigarette tax and a tax on certain foods- that would bring in about 170 million in new money. the senate plan@÷@8 also cal?ls for big cuts in state jobs-? and spending cuts in state agencies.?o?o?o?o?o the house- is easier on those cuts – but relies on some bigger tax revenues- their proposals include a temporary increase on the state gross receipts tax – and a tax hike for the states wealthiest. at some point in the next day or so- leadership in both the house and senate will go behind closed doors in conference committee – to hammer out a compromise…

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Cigars and smoking tobacco carry a whopping 30 percent excise tax.
Governor Patrick’s proposing a 110 percent increase for cigars, and 120 percent for smoking tobacco.

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New Mexico smokers could soon be shelling out more money for cigarettes if a group of democratic lawmakers get their way with a plan to raise the tobacco tax.

A pack of smokes could cost a dollar more if a pair of veteran lawmakers can convince enough of their colleagues that a tobacco tax hike would be good for the state’s bank account as well as public health.

Right now the cigarette tax is 91 cents a pack, though it would rise to $1.91 if the law is passed. Other tobacco taxes would increase, too.

“It’s a health issue, said Rep. Danice Picraux (D) Abq., This is a case where levying a dollar– we hope– deters people, especially young folks, from starting smoking or continuing smoking, and that’s our way to do it.”

Rhode Island is the state with the highest tax on cigarettes at $3.46 a pack, while South Carolina imposes the lowest pack tax at 7 cents. Currently, New Mexico ranks 37th in the nation for the cigarette tax.

Still, many New Mexico lawmakers aren’t in the mood to raise taxes in a recession.

“I don’t see an appetite at all from the republican side and I know a lot of democrat senators that share the same feeling, there is no appetite for a tax increase when people are hurting so badly in their homes and their businesses, ” said Sen. Kent Cravens (R), of Albuquerque.

Similar proposals that are also being discussed include raising taxes on liquor and sodas.

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