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• Lawmakers consider $1.50-per-pack cigarette tax hike 

Tobacco lobbyists have blocked previous attempts to increase the levy, one of the lowest in the country.
Jump to full article: Los Angeles Times, 2009-05-25
Author: Patrick McGreevy

Intro:

For years tobacco companies have successfully fought off attempts by California lawmakers and health groups to increase the cigarette tax. But next month, as the state grapples with the worst financial crisis in recent history, that may change.

Lawmakers will consider a proposal to hike cigarette taxes by $1.50 per pack and raise $1.2 billion annually. During the last decade, cigarette makers have spent tens of millions of dollars to kill 14 straight attempts to make smokers pay more.

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