Will the new tax rise on cigarettes pass?

The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee is trying to pass a bill that will raise the tax on cigarettes by more than a dollar.

PRINCETON --  A recent proposed legislation from the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee could have taxes on cigarettes rise to more than $1.50 a pack.

Smokers in West Virginia are not happy.

"I think it's crazy," said Princeton resident Amanda Henderson.

Henderson is an active smoker, and she said it's hard enough to afford cigarettes nowadays, but if the proposed tax increase passes, she said it will make it financially unhealthy for smokers.

"There's so many people that smoke," said Henderson, "and people in this economy, people don't have the money to pay more on cigarettes really, I mean they're high enough as it is."

The possible tax increase on cigarettes in West Virginia could send a lot of business out of West Virginia, through the East River Mountain and into Virginia.

"It's going to increase our business obviously," said Pop Shop Owner Raymond Walker. "Our tax right now is less than West Virginia's tax per pack."

Raymond Walker owns the Pop Shop store right along the Virginia, West Virginia border. He said 90 percent of his business already comes from West Virginians.

Walker said his store and others along the border are waiting to capitalize on even more business if the bill passes.

"It is very very important that we cater to the West Virginia traffic that comes over," said Walker, "Cigarettes are the draw."

The bill has passed through the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, but it still needs to go through the Senate Finance Committee.

While Walker has his fingers-crossed, Amanda said if it passes, tobacco-buyers paychecks could go up in a puff of smoke.

"I guess you could quit but really that's a little bit easier said than done," joked Henderson.