Smokers - Today is Your Day

In just a couple of hours we will take up consideration of the $1 per pack tax on cigarettes. If you are a smoker, beware, I think this tax is going to pass. The Austin Chronicle has a piece on this issue, you may find agreement with their statement:

"a tax increase that is both discriminatory and regressive "the less you make, the more you pay" is an especially tough call for legislators who represent low-income Texans."

This legislator represents a district with decent, hard working "low-income Texans" and I'll be voting against the tax, absent amendments that substantially change the bill. The monies raised do not go for education or for the treatment of addictions, rather they take monies from the poorest in order to relieve the taxes of the more fortunate. If the senate makes positive changes I will reexamine my position.

UPDATE: Latest rumor circulating through the halls of the capitol is that a teacher pay raise amendment will be placed on the cigarette tax bill. This would change the dynamics as to how to vote. I'll keep you informed as we move along.

AMENDMENTS:
(11:40) Rep. Chisum presents an amendment to lower the tax from a $1.00 to 65 cents. Rep. Coleman rises to speak against the amendment because he (a smoker) does not think that 65 cents is not a high enough barrier. Chisum thinks that $1.00 will create a black market. Rep. Merritt makes the point that veterans were given cigarettes as part of their rations and therefore would be affected by the increase. Rep. Delisi argues that a vote for the amendment would interfere with having effective property tax reduction. Rep. McReynolds rises to point out that the amendment would interfere with discouraging young people from smoking. Rep. Hodge argues against the cigarette tax because it targets working class Texans. Rep. Menendez argues against the increase because it unfairly targets a poorer segment of our society that may lose out on a simple pleasure. Burnt Orange Report has more observations on this amendment.

(12:27) The amendment on a motion to table prevails on a vote of -- 104 ayes to 37 nays.

HB 5 is brought to a vote on second reading and passes on a vote of -- 82 ayes to 53 nays.

WITH REGARDS TO TEACHER PAY AMENDMENT: They were filed by Democrats but were ruled as not being germane and in violation of the one-subject rule.

(12:50) The rules are suspended HB 5 is brought to a vote on third reading and passes on a vote of -- 82 ayes to 57 nays.

The bill passes out of the House to increase the tax on cigarettes by a dollar. Here is the AP story on today's events by April Castro. The Monitor's Liz Pierson has it too. DMN has the story.

Smokers' Tax Day is over. I'll head home for the weekend. Session resumes Monday at 2:00 p.m.

Image by Max Gallery.