CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A group of Republican delegates have urged other members of the House to support the 45-cent tobacco tax increase up for a vote Tuesday.
A release said the tax is essential to both balancing the budget for next fiscal year, and preventing an interruption in government services.
A group of 16 Republican delegates includes George Ambler (R-Greenbrier), Bill Anderson (R-Wood), Saira Blair (R-Berkeley), Roy Cooper (R-Summers), Paul Espinosa (R-Jefferson), David Evans (R-Marshall), Woody Ireland (R-Ritchie), J.B. McCuskey (R-Kanawha), Carol Miller (R-Cabell), Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha), John Shott (R-Mercer), Erikka Storch (R-Ohio), Danny Wagner (R-Barbour), Ron Walters (R-Kanawha), Ryan Weld (R-Brooke) and Steve Westfall (R-Jackson).
The delegates joined Speaker Tim Armstead and Majority Leader Daryl Cowles in their support of the tax hike.
The tobacco tax will also directly contribute $43 million to eliminate the expected funding shortfall for the PEIA next year, the release said.
“A vote against the tobacco tax is a vote against PEIA funding,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Anderson. “Passage of this bill will avert the drastic increases in deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses our employees and retirees have been worried about in the coming fiscal year.”
Next year’s budget shortfall stands at roughly $271 million.