Lawmakers Remain Divided On Budget Fix

The biggest tax to pass Thursday was a cigarette tax, which would raise the tax by 25 cents. 

 

“I thought it was a very vigorous debate, which we had planned on, it was a little closer than what I thought it would be but it passed. Now the other measures need to pass also for us to bring the budget up the way we passed it in committee,” said Republican Rep. Steve Clouse.

 

Even though democrats have brought up cigarette taxes for years, they overwhelmingly voted no for this bill.

 

They also are continuing to vote no on every other measure.

 

House Minority leader Craig Ford says this isn’t the way to fix the budget.

 

“We have been trying to tell the governor from day one if it’s to solve this problem is to enter into the compact in the affordable care act and expand medicaid. The hypocrisy of this special session is the republicans ran on pledges of no new taxes and we’re down here raising taxes on every day Alabamians,” said Rep. Ford.

 

But some Republicans say the shift to supporting taxes is coming from the people of the state.

They say many voters are worried about what could happen without more revenue.

 

“Members all over the state are hearing from their constituents about how important these services are from mental health to medicaid to the courts to the prison reform to keep the feds from coming in here and unlocking the doors,” said Rep. Clouse.