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Sanford: Cigarette tax shouldn't grow government 

Governor Mark Sanford reaffirmed Thursday his stand on not raising any tax without an offsetting tax cut, saying he would veto the Senate's cigarette tax hike if it comes to his desk in its current form.

The governor also called the plan a "double tax increase" for the way it increases taxes immediately, but will also mean having to raise taxes later on to cover future growth in the programs it seeks to expand.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved a 50-cent increase to the cigarette tax, which would generate $158 million a year.

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