Area lawmakers weigh in on dueling tobacco-tax measures

More than 100 state lawmakers have voiced opposition to constitutional Amendment 3 on Missouri's November ballot, including two area legislators who dislike it for different reasons.

Amendment 3 is one of two tobacco-tax-hike measures on the ballot, which lawmakers said could be confusing for voters.

Amendment 3 would raise Missouri's lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax by 60 cents over four years and impose an additional 67-cents-per-pack tax. The latter would be paid by cigarette wholesalers on certain brands.

Under Amendment 3, the retail cigarette tax would jump from 17 cents to 77 cents per pack by 2020.

Proposition A would increase taxes on tobacco products by 23 cents by 2021, bringing the total tax to 40 cents a pack. But a provision of that measure stipulates the tax will revert to 17 cents a pack if another petition-brought tobacco tax measure is placed on the ballot in the future.

Rep. Holly Rehder

Amendment 3 and Proposition A would require a simply majority for passage.

Amendment 3 proponents say their measure would provide $300 million annually for early-childhood education.

Proposition A backers say their petitioned tax measure would generate $100 million annually in added revenue for Missouri's roads and bridges.

State Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, opposes Amendment 3.

"I don't like taxes like this," she said. "I don't like taxing something that is legal." State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, also opposes the measure.

Rep. Kathy Swan

Rehder said she supports early-childhood education. But she said the measure would put the spending of that tax money in the hands of a state board, removing it from the legislative appropriation process.

"This creates a slush fund," she said.

She said she opposes any tax increase until lawmakers rein in tax breaks that cost the state millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.

"Until we get serious about tackling that problem, we do not need to be asking taxpayers for more money," Rehder said.

But two Republican Cape Girardeau County lawmakers said they have not taken sides when it comes to the Amendment 3 and Proposition A ballot issues.

Sen. Wayne Wallingford

Rep. Kathy Swan of Cape Girardeau said, "I am staying out of this fight."

She added, "It is a fight between big tobacco and small tobacco (companies)."

Tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds has poured more than $3 million into the effort to pass Amendment 3, according to opponents. Smaller tobacco companies have backed Proposition A.

Swan spoke at a news conference last month that promoted Amendment 3. But Swan said Tuesday while she advocated more funding for early-childhood education at the news conference, she did not publicly support or oppose the ballot measure.

State Sen. Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau said he is "looking to hear from constituents."

He added, "Generally, my constituents do not support tax increases."

Wallingford questioned funding such programs on the backs of "one group of people." A tobacco-tax hike would disproportionately burden lower-income residents, he said.

The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association has been one of the groups leading the opposition to Amendment 3 and supporting Proposition A.

Ronald Leone, executive director of the group, said Proposition A is a more reasonable tax increase.

"It is a lesser tax increase for a common purpose to improve our roads and bridges," he said.

He added, "We have always been in favor of a fair and reasonable tax increase."

Leone said Amendment 3 would benefit big tobacco companies because it would impose an additional tax on wholesalers of lower-cost cigarettes.

"Amendment 3 is a big tobacco scam," he said.

But "Yes on 3 for Kids" spokesman Jane Dueker said Amendment 3 is about helping children. It would fund early-childhood education and health services, as well as smoking-cessation programs.

"We are not surprised all the politicians would be against this," she said, adding the measure would have a "lock box" that prevents lawmakers from spending the money as they see fit.

Lawmakers and proponents of the tax measures said they don't know what will happen if voters approve both ballot issues.

Whatever happens at the polls, Wallingford said implementation may be decided in court.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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