(AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina lawmakers have overridden Gov. Mark Sanford's veto and raised what was the nation's lowest cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack.
Thursday's vote raises the 7 cent tax to 57 cents a pack on July 1 and leave Missouri with the nation's lowest tax at 17 cents.
The 33-13 vote in the Senate followed a 90-29 vote in the House on Wednesday after the Republican Sanford had said he wouldn't allow a tax increase on cigarettes unless it was offset by some other tax decrease.
The measure raises nearly $125 million to cover the loss of federal bailout cash next year in Medicaid programs for the elderly, disabled and poor. It also is expected to generate $5 million each for cancer research and efforts to curb smoking and $1 million for agriculture marketing.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
