A proposed bill by a Montanta lawmaker to raise cigarette taxes by USD 1.50 per pack comes after similar proposals have been put forward in six other states.

Montana State Representative Trudi Schmidt announced on Tuesday plans to introduce a bill in the legislature that would impose an added tax of USD 1.50 (EUR 1.08) to the current tax of USD 1.70 for each pack of cigarettes.
Supporters of the tax hike say the money would pay for many social programs, such as Meals on Wheels, Senior Companions and the Tobacco Use Prevention Program, which are slated to be cut come 1 July 2011. 
According to the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO), the Montana tax hike is one of several other proposals that were put forward. Since February this year bills to raise taxes on cigarettes and/ or other tobacco products (OTP) have been put forward in
California (from USD 0.87 to USD 2.37 per pack of cigarettes);
Connecticut (from USD 3.00 to USD 3.40 per pack of cigarettes, to USD 1.00 per ounce on moist snuff to USD 1.00 per ounce, and from 20 per cent to 50 per cent for OTP wholesale pices);
Kentucky (from USD 0.60 to 1.66 per pack of cigarettes, and from 15 per cent to 27.5 per cent for OTP wholesale pices);
Maryland (from USD 2.00 to USD 3.00 per pack of cigarettes, and from 15 per cent to 95 per cent for OTP wholesale pices);
New York (from USD 4.35 to USD 6.00 per pack of cigarettes);
North Dakota (the proposed rise by USD 0.41 per pack pack failed to pass the legislature on 10 February). (pi)