Shortly, Massachusetts will be home to the second highest cigarette tax in the country. This honor comes after the state legislature passed a $1 increase to the stateŠ—'s cigarette tax last week as part of a larger transportation bill. The increase will bring MassachusettsŠ—' tax to $3.51 a pack.

I am pleased to share with you that U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a bill last week that would eliminate disparities in the federal tax rates for various tobacco products, a proposal that will increase federal revenues and save lives.