Cigarette Tax Proposal Getting Another Hearing | Health

A proposal to increase the tax on cigarettes in Idaho has all but failed in the legislature, but it's getting another hearing this afternoon.  Right now, there's a 57 cent tax per pack of cigarettes, but house Democrats want to add $1.25 to that tax.  They say it would bring in $50 million a year and help to reduce cuts to Medicaid and education.  Republican leaders argue that there's not enough supoprt and have decided not to introduce the bill this session.  They say that now is not the time to be raising taxes, and they have other ways to fill the budget gap.  This afternoon, though, Democrats are holding their own informational hearing on the issue, hoping to get it introduced before the session ends.