The governor's plan is a modified version of proposals offered in the first week of the special session and now altered to be modeled after a compromise proposal advanced last week by Alaskans for a Plan, a group of business leaders dedicated to a long-range budget plan for the state. Already on the special session agenda, which began May 8, are a balanced state budget, worker contracts, fixes to capital and operating budget problems and a tobacco tax vote. Alaskans Support Tobacco Tax Increase. A vast majority of Anchorage residents support increasing Alaska's tobacco tax and even more want a simple up and down legislative vote on doing so, according to an Anchorage Daily News poll released today. The state Senate passed the tobacco tax 17-3 during the regular session, but House Speaker Gail Phillips has refused to allow a House vote, despite indications it would pass overwhelmingly.
Supporters say increasing the cost of tobacco products is a sure way of discouraging youth smoking.
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