THE PRICE NEW MEXICANS PAY FOR CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS COULD BE GOING UP AGAIN. ON WEDNESDAY IN SANTA FE, THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ENDORSED A BILL INCREASING THE EXCISE TAX BY A DOLLAR-50. THE VOTE WAS 4-2 WITH DEMOCRATS GIVING THEIR SUPPORT AND REPUBLICANS REJECTING THE IDEA.
SUPPORTERS SAY THE TAX WOULD PUMP 89 MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO THE STATE’S CLASSROOMS…AND REDUCE BY THOUSANDS THE NUMBER OF NEW MEXICANS WHO SMOKE.
