House Signs Off On Philadelphia Cigarette Tax Measure

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- All eyes shift to the state Senate after the House late this afternoon once again approved a bill to authorize a cigarette tax to raise badly needed cash for Philadelphia schools.

Just as it did at the beginning of summer, the House, without debate this time, passed a cigarette tax bill that does not contain language favored by the Senate that is unrelated to Philadelphia schools and has sent that bill back to the Senate.

Erik Arneson,a spokesman for Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi, the Senate majority leader, says, "The Senate is eager to see this issue resolved, to get the bill to the governor's desk. We are working on alternative bills that would address issues that had previously been in this bill such as hotel taxes in various counties, and CRIZ economic development zone expansions."

Arneson says Senate majority Republicans will need to discuss the bill sent back over to them by the House and a result, a vote on the cigarette tax legislation in the Senate is not likely before Wednesday.

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