Vermont Action Center

Vermont’s Cigarette Tax

The 2011 legislative session has come to a close.  This year the Vermont legislature had a great opportunity to impact public health by increasing the cost of cigarettes.  We know that a 10% increase in the overall price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking rates by 7% and overall cigarette consumption by 4%.  The Senate Finance Committee as well as the Senate Health and Welfare Committee recommended increasing the tax by $1 per pack.  Following a heated debate, the Senate rescinded the recommended $1 tax increase by a close vote of 16 to 14.  The Senate subsequently approved, by voice vote, only a 53 cent tax increase, which was further reduced to 38 cents in conference between the House and Senate.*  This minimal tax increase of 38 cents is not enough to significantly impact public health and represents a missed opportunity for make Vermont a healthier state. The following is the breakdown of the crucial Senate vote to rescind the $1 tax increase:

16 VT State Senators who voted to rescind the $1 increase:

Sen. Joe Benning           Caledonia County

Sen. Randy Brock          Franklin County

Sen. William Carris        Rutland County

Sen. Bill Doyle                Washington County

Sen. Peg Flory               Rutland County

Sen. Harold Giard          Addison County

Sen. Robert Hartwell      Bennington County

Sen. Vincent Illuzzi         Essex-Orleans Counties

Sen. Jane Kitchel           Caledonia County

Sen. Virginia Lyons        Chittenden County

Sen. Dick Mazza            Grand Isle County

Sen. Alice Nitka              Windsor County

Sen. Dick Sears             Bennington County

Sen. Diane Snelling       Chittenden County

Sen. Robert Starr           Essex-Orleans Counties

Sen. Jeanette White      Windham County

14 VT State Senators who voted against rescinding the $1 increase:

Sen. Tim Ashe                Chittenden County

Sen. Claire Ayer             Addison County

Sen. Philip Baruth          Chittenden County

Sen. John Campbell      Windsor County

Sen. Ann Cummings      Washington County

Sen. Sally Fox                Chittenden County

Sen. Peter Galbraith       Windham County

Sen. Sara Kittel               Franklin County

Sen. Mark MacDonald   Orange County

Sen. Dick McCormack   Windsor County

Sen. Hinda Miller            Chittenden County

Sen. Kevin Mullin           Rutland County

Sen. Anthony Pollina      Washington County

Sen. Richard Westman  Lamoille County

*The House vote on the tobacco tax was also a voice vote.  Because no votes are recorded during a voice vote, we are not able to report how individual legislators voted.