No New Wyoming Cigarette Tax

BUFFALO, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming lawmakers have abandoned a proposal to increase the cigarette tax in the state after lobbyists representing nicotine companies objected.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that the Joint Revenue Committee on Thursday voted to reject a proposal that would have increased the state cigarette tax by $1.25 a pack. The current tax is 60 cents for a pack of cigarettes.

Wyoming currently has some of the lowest tobacco taxes and the highest smoking rates in the country. Nationally, the average tax is $1.65 a pack.

Lobbyists at the meeting representing R.J. Reynolds Co.; Phillip Morris USA; the Cigar Association of America; the Wyoming State Liquor Association and others argued that if Wyoming increased the tax smokers would just go buy in other states.

The American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network had pushed for the increase in taxes.