by Krystal Zaragoza
Daily Lobo
Smokers face a large increase in cigarette spending this year when House bill 488, known as the cigarette tax bill went into effect on July 1, raising tax on cigarettes 70 cents.
The bill introduced by House Representative Paul Taylor was signed by Governor Bill Richardson on April 9 of this year and raises the tax from 21 cents to 91 cents.
In an article in the New Mexico Business Weekly Richardson said, "this law is going to make great strides in protecting those who tobacco effects most - our youth and our seniors."
Manager of The Zone on Central Avenue, James Fuentes disagreed, saying, "It's not going to stop anyone from smoking, it is just going to take more money from poor people."
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Local senior citizen and smoker Valerie Fowler said equal taxes should be implemented on alcohol sales.
According to the bill, a total of $40 million dollars will be dedicated to the state's human services department. Other funds will be given to the Cancer Research and Treatment Center and UNM's Health Sciences Center.
