Senate passes cigarette tax increase

The Montana Senate voted 27-22 Thursday to pass a bill that nearly doubles the state tax on tobacco products and imposes a new tax on e-cigarettes, Senate Bill 354, by Sen. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, now moves to the House. The roll-call showed 10 Republicans joined 17 Democrats to pass the bill, while 22 Republicans opposed the bill. One Democrat was absent…It would raise the current $1.70-a-pack state tax on cigarettes by $1.50 a pack to a new rate of $3.20 a pack, the fifth highest among the states.

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