Tobacco tax proposal clears state Senate committee

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A proposal to ask state voters to raise the tobacco tax passed a state Senate committee Tuesday.<br><br>The committee voted 12-to-0 to send the measure to the full Senate for consideration.

Tuesday, March 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A proposal to ask state voters to raise the tobacco tax passed a state Senate committee Tuesday.

The committee voted 12-to-0 to send the measure to the full Senate for consideration. The unanimous vote came despite reservations of some senators who question whether the tax increase would raise as much money as estimated.

Governor Henry proposed the tax of about 52-cents per pack of cigarettes, saying it would bring in $130-million.

He wants to use $100-million to help provide health care coverage to about 200,000 uninsured Oklahomans. The money would also be used to build a cancer treatment center and upgrade the state trauma care system.

The bill has already passed the House, but a final version is expected to be developed in a joint House-Senate conference committee.