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Indiana Republican leader says he’ll settle for lower cigarette tax increase

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The leader of the Indiana House says he is willing to back down at least partially on a proposed $1 cigarette tax increase.

Tobacco and convenience store trade groups have opposed the increase the House endorsed last month, along with many Republicans in the state Senate. They maintain the increase would hurt business by encouraging smokers to cross state lines to buy cheaper cigarettes.

Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said Thursday that he’s willing to curtail the increase to about 60 cents. He says that would bring cigarette taxes in line with neighboring Ohio.

The measure is just one of several tax increases House Republicans have proposed this year to help cover the costs of a long-term infrastructure funding plan.

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2 comments

Boston Tea Party Time! March 10, 2017 at 8:28 am

How is it legal for our politicians to target a single commodity and tax the hell out of it at their whim? I am not a smoker so this won’t effect me but still…How is this legal? Wouldn’t this be a form of discrimination? Smokers have to pay for infrastructure improvements but non-smokers don’t. LGBTQXYZ!@# people get special rights and smokers get shafted! I love America!

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I like my coffee black and my tea in the harbor. March 10, 2017 at 11:41 am

People let this slip because they don’t smoke, or drink, or whatever so someone else pays…until they do. We’ll all be paying the new gas tax; unless of course you’re one of those who doesn’t smoke and rides a bike to work. I’m sure they will find a way to get to them too though.

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