SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home

Member's Press Release

Release Date: 02/23/2016
Contact: Jacque Bland at (304) 590-4678


President Cole


Statement from Senate President Bill Cole on Tobacco Tax Increase

CHARLESTON – Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer, issued the following statement about the West Virginia Senate's vote to pass a $1 per pack tax increase on tobacco:

"It is unfortunate that throughout this entire legislative session, the opposing side has continued to play political gamesmanship with the funding of PEIA. Today’s vote to raise the tobacco tax $1 a pack ultimately will do nothing to fix the problem or fill the budget shortfall. A tax increase of that size would hurt our border retailers, and the loss of that tax revenue would more than offset the amount the $1 per pack hike is projected to raise. The West Virginia Senate, in its current budget bill, has fully funded PEIA for Fiscal Year 2017, and we will do so regardless of what combination of tax increases or spending cuts are proposed and accepted."




All Releases

This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **