Legislature looks at cigarette tax, emission inspection fee hike

The House Ways and Means Committee was expected to hold a hearing this morning for a bill that would essentially increase the price of a pack of cigarettes. Rep. Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe, is pushing House Bill 1280 to permit local health and human services districts to levy an excise tax of 50 cents at the point of sale. For his part, Rep. Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge, committee chairman, has promised not to let any taxes out of his committee; according to the rules of this regular session, tax proposals are prohibited from being enacted anyway. Meanwhile, in the House Transportation Committee this morning, Rep. Michael Jackson of Baton Rouge, with no party affiliation, will be presenting his own revenue-raising measure: a fee, which is allowed in the session. His House Bill 938 would increase from $8 to $15 the fee that’s charged for emission inspections. The proposed law specifies that the additional $7 would be used for “mass transit purposes.” Jackson has been the point man pushing for passenger rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. —Jeremy Alford