Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Texas lawmakers increased the cigarette sales tax from .41 cents per pack to $1.41 per pack during a Special Legislative Session in 2006.
At the time of the 2006 increase which went into effect Jan. 1 2007 Texas revenue forecasters estimated the tax increase would generate millions annually for state coffers & presumed smokers would quit. They noted especially that fewer youngsters would take up the habit.
Right now the smoking rate amongst the nations youth is at its lowest rate in a generation … and we think thats a good thing" said Bill Phelps a spokesman for Altria the parent company of Philip Morris.
In fact by some measures today the rate of smoking cigarettes amongst high schoolers is below marijuana use by high schoolers" said Phelps.
