Massachusetts Passes State’s Largest Tax Increase Since 2002

The Massachusetts House last week passed legislation to increase taxes including a $1 increase in the state’s cigarette tax which raises the per-pack tax to $2.51 from $1.51.   The hotly contested tax increase was opposed by lawmakers from border districts who expressed grave concerns that the higher rate would send customers across the border to purchase tobacco, alcohol and lottery tickets from convenience stores operating within lower tax states.  Despite opposition from 19 Republicans and a few fiscally conservative Democrats, the bill easily passed.