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Pennsylvania Senate passes cigarette tax

A day after approved by the House, the Pennsylvania Senate passed the $2 per pack cigarette tax to fund Philadelphia schools.

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Update: Governor Corbett signed the bill to tax cigarettes on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

In a 39 to 11 vote, the Pennsylvania Senate has approved a $2-per-pack cigarette tax to fund Philadelphia schools.

An earlier version of the bill included other, unrelated provisions. This version includes just the cigarette tax, and passed in the House on Sept. 22, 114 to 84. The Governor must approve the tax before schools see any revenue. The tax could provide $83 million in yearly revenue and half of that in its first year.

Philadelphia schools opened this year with an $81 million deficit, overcrowded classrooms and a staff devoid of full-time nurses, counselors, and creative and performing arts teachers. The cigarette tax is expected to bring the district up to basic funding levels, but still leave many schools without resources.

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