South Carolina legislators OK raising nation’s lowest cigarette tax, but Sanford promises veto

SC lawmakers raise lowest smoke tax; veto promised

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina legislators have approved raising what is now the nation’s lowest cigarette tax, but Gov. Mark Sanford promises he will veto it.

The state Senate voted 41-1 on Wednesday to approve the 50-cent increase previously passed by the House.

Supporters say the more important vote will come later, when they need a two-thirds vote in each chamber to override the veto.

The current tax is 7 cents a pack. If the increase becomes law, Missouri would then have the nation’s lowest tax at 17 cents a pack.

Sanford, a Republican, says he will only agree to a cigarette tax increase if the money is used to offset some other tax.

The current bill would put more than $125 million into Medicaid programs and $5 million into cancer research and anti-smoking programs.