The House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation to increase the state tax on vapes and e-cigarettes, but the same panel did not approve a bill to increase Louisiana’s tax on cigarettes. 7-4 was the vote against the cigarette tax hike. But Vacherie Representative Ken Brass’s legislation to raise the tax on vapes and e-cigarettes passed on a 9-6 vote. Brass says a higher tax will result in a drop in usage for these harmful products.
“This is going to deter and lower the rate, which is ultimately going to save us as a legislature governor, healthcare costs,” Brass said.
Democrats on the committee voted for Brass’s bill, while Republicans were split. Bossier City Representative Dennis Hamburg knows there’s a large percentage of teens smoking vapes and e-cigarettes and if it costs more, it can reduce the percentage of minors using these products…