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Among the bills headed for passage in the legislature, taxes on cigarettes and the coal truck weight bill.
Cigarette taxes will increase 55 cents a pack.
The legal weights for coal trucks will rise to 126,000 pounds in 16 southern counties. The increase is from from 65,000
pounds. Trucks can carry only 80,000 pounds on interstate highways.
With the legislative pace intensifying with the approach of the final day of the regular session today, the House voted 56 to 43
Friday evening for the bill to allow coal trucks to run legally at weights of up to 126,000 pounds on designated haul roads.
roads.
"The eyes of West Virginians will be on this," said Delegate Mike Caputo, who said the "legal" damage to roads will be in
the millions of dollars. He reminded legislators of the dozens of people who died and the hundreds who have been injured in
coal truck collisions.
Senate Health and Human Resources Chairman Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, said the cigarette tax could raise an additional
$12.5 million. He said the money could be used to offset reductions in the state health-care provider tax, which is used to
draw down federal Medicaid funds on a 3-to-1 match.
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