Vermont Senate rejects $1-a-pack tax hike

Vermont lawmakers have snuffed out a proposed $1-a-pack boost in the state tax on cigarettes.

After giving preliminary approval Thursday to a state budget that relies partly on revenue from it, the Vermont Senate voted 16-14 to defeat the tax, which supporters say would have raised $9 million annually.

Critics said boosting the tax by that much would send cigarette smokers to New Hampshire to buy and would stop the flow of New Yorkers who go to Vermont to buy cigarettes.

The taxes have been raised to almost every cigarette brand but for those who like Virginia cigarettes or Marlboro Gold cigarettes it is getting more expensive.

Currently, the Vermont state tax on a pack of cigarettes is $2.24.