ND House votes to snuff out tobacco tax increase

The House has rejected two bills that would increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.  One bill as amended would have raised the 44 cent tax on a pack of cigarettes by at least a dollar.

The bill’s main sponsor – Wahpeton Democratic Representative Alisa Mitskog – argued there’s a health care cost for smoking.  That measure failed 66 to 25.

A second bill would have raised taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.  It was sponsored by Republican Representative Jon Nelson.  “Nobody like taxes…but this would work to reduce smoking rates.”

Representative Rick Becker argued that by assessing “sin taxes” to pay for health care becomes a “slippery slope.”

That measure was also rejected on a 58 to 33 vote.

By comparison the tax rate in Minnesota is $3.04…South Dakota $1.53…and Montana $1.70.

NDPPR/KNOX

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