Now with doubts cast about the potential magnitude of casino revenues the T-word is suddenly audible in the corridors of the state capitol. The early front runner seems to be a cigarette tax - that will fall short of meeting its objective.
Go figure.
Ryan Alessi and John Stamper report in today's H-L:
THREAT OF EDUCATION CUTS COULD SWAY KEY LAWMAKERS
FRANKFORT --Spurned as political suicide only weeks ago, a potential cigarette tax hike now has support from a growing bevy of heavy hitting lawmakers.
Facing the prospect of a bare-bones budget that cuts education spending, several leading Democratic lawmakers say they're exploring the possibility of doubling the state's 30-cent tax on a pack of cigs.
"It's a matter of how deep the cuts are," said Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond. "If they get into K-12, then I think we need to look at the option of increasing the cigarette tax."
Worley said he and a majority of his caucus would vote to increase the tax before cutting primary or secondary education. In the Democratic-controlled House, budget committee chairman Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said more House members seem open to a cigarette tax increase as the prospect of deep cuts to education becomes a reality.
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