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Suozzi in talks with Paterson for OK on cigarette tax 

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, in an attempt to gain support for a $2 per pack cigarette tax, said he is negotiating with Gov. David A. Paterson to give nearly half of any county revenue earned from the tax to the cash-strapped state to make up for any anticipated loss of revenue from sales.

Suozzi's comments come after Assembly lawmakers last month balked at approving the bill, apparently because of opposition by Paterson, and recessed for the summer. Tuesday, Paterson declined to comment.

But Suozzi Tuesday again called for state legislators in Albany to approve the cigarette tax to help plug a Nassau budget deficit.

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