Backers pushing tobacco tax plan

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Capitol news bureau
• Published: May 17, 2009

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A proposal to raise cigarette taxes is turning into a political struggle with some of the governor’s legislative leaders bucking his opposition to the hike.

House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Peterson, D-New Orleans, is author of the legislation. Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, is a co-author.

Three Republican lawmakers also are co-authors. Gov. Bobby Jindal is a Republican.

House Bill 889 would raise cigarette taxes by 50 cents a pack, generating more than $100 million annually in state revenue. The state is facing a $1.3 billion drop in revenue in the budget year starting July 1.

Jindal is opposed to raising taxes to resolve the state’s economic problems.

An earlier proposal to raise cigarette taxes by $1 a pack died in committee. Peterson then cut the tax in half. HB889 was supposed to come up for a vote in the House Committee on Ways and Means last week but two lawmakers bolted to the Governor’s Office, preventing the committee from achieving a quorum.

House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, acknowledged that he worked behind the scenes to bring the proposal to a vote.

He said he is opposed to raising taxes right now unless it is a local tax.

Tucker said he got involved in the tobacco-tax issue because the Louisiana Legislature needs to be a body that is independent of the governor.

“The Legislature has to make these kinds of decisions on their own,” he said.

On Friday, the House showed its independence by blocking House Bill 3, the borrowing engine for the construction budget.

Lawmakers said they are unhappy with the governor’s proposed cuts to the poor, elderly and higher education.

“We haven’t solved our problems here,” said state Rep. Bodi White, R-Central and one of four Republicans voting against HB3.