LINCOLN — A Nebraska legislative committee heard testimony this week that would bump the state cigarette tax from $0.64 to $1.50.
Medical professionals are praising the measure, saying it will encourage smokers to quit and help finance state health programs. On the other side, retailers and grocers are among those challenging the proposal.
They say there’s no guarantee smokers will quit and point to testimony from a law enforcement consultant. This shows that states with high cigarette taxes have a black market for the product and attract organized crime.
Projections have this measure generating as much as $120 million.
