New Hampshire is hoping to shore up its sagging budget by attracting smokers from other states to buy cigarettes at relatively bargain prices.
The House voted 190-120 yesterday to delay a proposed 25-cent cigarette tax hike in hopes residents from nearby states will stock up on New Hampshire smokes. The House rejected a move to kill the tax increase altogether.
The Senate next considers the proposal.
If New Hampshire doesn’t get $50 million from cigarette sales between July 1st and October 1st, the state’s $1.08 tax will go up a quarter.