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Kansas committee review bill to boost tobacco, alcohol taxes

By Associated Press - | Feb 16, 2015

? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposals to raise alcohol and tobacco taxes are being reviewed by a legislative committee.

The House Taxation Committee has scheduled hearings for Wednesday and Thursday on a bill containing Brownback’s proposals.

Brownback wants to raise tobacco and alcohol taxes to help eliminate a projected shortfall of nearly $600 million in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The state’s budget problems arose after lawmakers aggressively cut income taxes at Brownback’s urging in 2012 and 2013 to stimulate the economy.

The Republican governor wants to increase the cigarette tax to $2.29 a pack from 79 cents. The tax on other tobacco products would rise to 25 percent from 10 percent.

The tax on packaged alcoholic beverages would go to 12 percent from 8 percent.