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House debate on cigarette tax amendment ends in 37-37 tie; key amendment sought to fund Huntsman and U. of Utah
Summary
Lawmakers debated competing amendments to a proposed cigarette-tax increase that would fund tobacco prevention, Medicaid services and research. Sponsor Representative Yerkes proposed allocating 4¢ per pack to both Huntsman Cancer Center and the University of Utah; after extensive floor debate the second substitute failed on a 37–37 vote.
Members of the Utah House spent several hours Feb. 7 debating competing amendments to the second substitute of House Bill 238, a package to raise the cigarette excise and direct new revenue to public-health and research priorities.
Representative Yerkes offered amendment number 12 to the second substitute, proposing that 4 cents per pack go to the Huntsman Cancer Center and 4 cents to the University of Utah Medical School. “So bottom line is that I am proposing 4¢ for both the Huntsman and 4¢ for the University of Utah,” Yerkes said when…
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