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Home > What's New > Vote on SCHIP Unlikely in '08
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Vote on SCHIP Unlikely in '08
Posted: Friday, September 12, 2008
By David Savona
A new vote on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which would likely cause cigar taxes to rise considerably, is not likely for the remainder of the year. According to The New York Times and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, congressional Democrats fear another veto by President Bush and will likely postpone a new vote until 2009.
Bush vetoed a SCHIP expansion twice in 2007, first in October, then in December.
The controversial legislation surrounding the child health care program revolves around a $35 billion expansion, funds for which would come from higher cigarette and cigar taxes. The current federal excise tax on large cigars is 20.7 percent of the manufacturer's selling price, capped at five cents. The original plan called for that tax to soar to as high as $10 per cigar.
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