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Lawmakers to vote on budget
Gas, cigarette tax hikes included
Updated: Thursday, 02 Apr 2009, 1:27 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 01 Apr 2009, 6:08 AM EDT
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI/AP) - House lawmakers plan to vote on a $7.2 billion spending plan that would close a budget deficit by raising Rhode Island's cigarette tax to the highest in the country.
House Speaker William Murphy has scheduled a vote on the proposal Wednesday at 2 p.m.
The plan backed by Democratic lawmakers would raise Rhode Island's cigarette tax by $1 to $3.46 for a pack of 20 cigarettes. Convenience store owners have said the plan will cripple their businesses.
Lawmakers have also proposed raising the state's gasoline tax by 2 cents to 33 cents per gallon. The money would be used to fund public transit and local road repairs.
Gov. Don Carcieri has criticized the gas tax increase but stopped short of threatening a veto.
The budget is expected to pass. If the governor vetoes it, there are enough votes for an override.
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