After working its way through the legislative process, a bill that would have raised cigarette taxes in South Caroling was blocked by the Senate Minority Leader. The bill would have generated money to assist in covering health care costs.
South Carolina currently has a cigarette tax of 7 cents per pack, a national low. The bill would have increased the state’s tax to 50 cents per pack, which would have generated $145 million in annual revenue. The national average for cigarette taxes is $1.23 per pack.
Most of the additional revenue would be applied to a program supplying up to $3,000 per year for individual health care for uninsured citizens. Employers who participated would also get a credit for 67% of the value of their contributions.
The bill was a waste of time, proclaimed John Land, the Senate Minority Leader. He thinks the tax revenue should be put in the Medicaid state plan to have a more efficient impact.
Senator Land was not a fan of the bill, saying it was a silly proposal for the state.
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