ALBANY – Mayor Bloomberg’s call for another cigarette tax hike was met with support yesterday from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver but avoidance from Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
Silver said he “probably could” support the proposed 50-cent city excise-tax increase.. But he expressed concern the move could promote more illegal cigarette imports.
Bruno, an avid anti-smoker on record against any tax increases in this year’s budget, dodged comment on the proposal.
“All of this is going to be part of the budget in terms of revenue needs, health-care needs and Medicaid needs, so I won’t be addressing people’s comments in isolation,” Bruno said.