This one is almost too insane to be true, as the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association has filed an initiative to raise tobacco taxes that include a 50% increase on other tobacco products (cigars).
The measure comes from a group that once fought to keep the state’s tax as one of the lowest in the nation. The measure which comes in less than other proposals recently filed with the state. If passed one of the proposals would be used to fund transportation while the other has the money going to the general revenue fund.
The measures need a minimum of 157, 788 signatures from 6 of 8 congressional districts in the state and if those signatures are obtained it could bring the increase to a vote on the November 2016 ballot.
In the past the state voters have voted against a tobacco tax increase with the most recent in 2012.
