Legislation Introduced To Increase Tobacco Tax in California
Assembly member Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) has introduced a bill (AB 89) that would increase the state tobacco tax by $2.10 per pack of cigarettes to help fund children's health care and other children's programs, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
Torlakson's office estimates that the tax hike would raise about $2 billion annually.
The Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports that approval of the measure is "highly unlikely" because it would need Republican support to attain the necessary two-thirds majority vote (Goldmacher, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 1/7). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.