South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators

 Cigarette Tax Debate

The cigarette tax debate has moved to the S.C. House after the Senate passed a 50 cent increase last week with a veto-proof majority. 

The House can either Concur (agree to the Senate bill), amend the bill (perhaps to the 30 cent increase they included in the Budget bill) or Nonconcur (sending it to a Conference Committee straight away).  The most likely scenario is that the House will amend the bill and send it back to the Senate, which will most like Nonconcur and send it to a Conference Committee.  The Governor has already promised to veto the increase.

Please call your House member and urge her or him to support an increase in the cigarette tax to the highest level possible, but to recognize that we need a bill that can override a veto.  That is their job:  to finally pass an increase in the cigarette tax in spite of a veto.

Your House member's contact information is at:  http://www.scstatehouse.gov/html-pages/housemembersd.html