Mass. legislators mull cigarette tax increase to help fund healthcare

Boston Globe, February 6, 2008

The top two legislative leaders in Massachusetts are considering raising the cigarette tax as one of several funding and cost-cutting strategies for the state's healthcare initiative. The lawmakers said they would also consider stiffer penalties on businesses that fail to insure their workers as a means to raise additional funds. And they are seeking ways to reduce healthcare costs, despite promising not to scale back the health insurance initiative.