Washington, D.C. – With the recent passage of Hawaii Republican Gov. Linda Lingle’s veto deadline, the cigarette tax increase that will add 20 cents per pack each of the next 6 years is set to be imposed.
Although the governor did not sign the bill, she refused to issue a veto and allowed the tax increase to become law.
Starting in September, cigarette users will be forced to pay an additional 1 cent per cigarette each year until 2011.
Due to flawed language, the tax hike, which sponsor Sen. Roz Baker (D-Maui) claimed would help fund a cancer center, only one cent total (not per cigarette) of this tax hike will be directed to the center, with the majority of the revenue flowing into the state’s general fund.
“It is disappointing that Gov. Lingle chose, for the third time, to break her pledge to oppose and veto all tax increases,