Lawmakers delay vote on cigarette tax

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A quarrel between the Republican governor and Democratic lawmakers derails a bill raising Rhode Island's cigarette tax by $1, making it the highest in the country.

Republican lawmakers say Gov. Don Carcieri has threatened to veto a bill raising the state's cigarette tax to $3.46 for a pack of 20 cigarettes. The threat came shortly before the House was expected to vote on the measure Wednesday.

A Carcieri spokeswoman says the governor wants the General Assembly to move on cost-cutting measures elsewhere in his proposed budget before considering tax hikes. The state faces a $357 million budget deficit for the year ending in June.

If the bill is eventually adopted, Rhode Island's cigarette tax would cost 71 cents more than the current leader, New York.