$3-a-Pack Cigarette Charge Survives 1st Test
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A bill that would impose an estimated $3-per-pack charge on cigarettes to help pay for smoking-related health-care costs survived its first legislative challenge Wednesday. Over Republican and tobacco industry opposition, the bill by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) cleared the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a 10-3 vote. Democrats voted for it, and Republicans against.
The bill faces more hearings in two other committees en route to the Senate floor, where approval is considered likely.
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