Tax hike killed

The West Virginia House of Delegates has killed a key tax hike on cigarettes and other tobacco products, stymieing budget negotiations. The 44-55 vote yesterday occurred during the GOP-led Legislature’s seventh day of budget session. Each day of session costs $35,000. The bill would have raised taxes on cigarettes by 45 cents a pack to $1. It would have also increased taxes on other tobacco products.
Lawmakers need to cover a $270 million budget gap. Without a budget plan before July 1, the state would go into a government shutdown.