Mississippi lawmakers pass 2nd cigarette tax this year  

Mississippi lawmakers late Monday approved the state's second cigarette excise tax increase of the year, and Gov. Haley Barbour said he will sign it into law.

The plan adds 25 cents a pack on cheaper cigarettes made by companies that did not participate in the state's 1997 settlement of a massive lawsuit against big tobacco firms. Barbour had asked legislators to approve the tax, which is set to take effect Wednesday.

The large companies have lobbied for the new fee on their competitors, saying the makers of cheap cigarettes have a financial advantage by not paying millions of dollars a year for the settlement.

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