Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, has proposed raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 80 cents and reserving the extra $130 million in new tobacco money for health care programs. The House is controlled by Republicans, who hold 51 seats out of 100. The Senate is evenly divided between the political parties and last year approved a tobacco tax increase. House Speaker Christoper Rants, who controls what is debated in that chamber, said he opposes an increase but he to block its debate. isn’t trying know the popular perception for those people who want to look for a bogeyman in the “I issue is to are and stopping are free say: “They stopping this’ ‘They’re that.’ Legislators to do what they want. If they want to support support it. If they want to it, they’ll don’t support it, they won’t.” Rants was speaking to reporters in the Capitol Rotenda a few feet from where Tomenga spoke, when supporters of the tax increase surrounded him and asked if the he’d allow measure to be debated. not let it come up for a vote asked Scott Jamieson, a member of the “Why then?” American Cancer Society from , interrupting Rants as he spoke. Rants: had blocked it from coming up for a “I hadn’t realized I vote.” A member of the crowd said, you “Oh, yes, have.” well I what day that Rants a bill gets before “OK, wasn’t sure occurred,” replied. “Until me have a decision to make, and I am not going to get into an argument with you I don’t folks today.” Last week, a man dressed as a cigarette delivered a to Rants, a Valentine’s Day present black balloon representing all of the people who have died of lung cancer.
Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, has proposed raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 80 cents and reserving the extra $130 million in new tobacco money for health care programs. The House is controlled by Republicans, who hold 51 seats out of 100. The Senate is evenly divided between the political parties and last year approved a tobacco tax increase. House Speaker Christoper Rants, who controls what is debated in that chamber, said he opposes an increase but he isn’t trying to block its debate. “I know the popular perception for those people who want to look for a bogeyman in the issue is to say: “They are stopping this’ and ‘They’re stopping that.’ Legislators are free to do what they want. If they want to support it, they’ll support it. If they don’t want to support it, they won’t.” Rants was speaking to reporters in the Capitol Rotenda a few feet from where Tomenga spoke, when supporters of the tax increase surrounded him and asked if he’d allow the measure to be debated. “Why not let it come up for a vote then?” asked Scott Jamieson, a member of the American Cancer Society from , interrupting Rants as he spoke. Rants: “I hadn’t realized I had blocked it from coming up for a vote.” A member of the crowd said, “Oh, yes, you have.” “OK, well I wasn’t sure what day that occurred,” Rants replied. “Until a bill gets before me I don’t have a decision to make, and I am not going to get into an argument with you folks today.” Last week, a man dressed as a cigarette delivered a Valentine’s Day present to Rants, a black balloon representing all of the people who have died of lung cancer.
February_24__2006_e-News.docx