BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Cigarette makers are helping fund an effort to snuff out a measure seeking to increase North Dakota's tobacco tax.
Campaign finance reports filed with the state show Marlboro-maker Altria Group Inc. and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. have contributed more than $860,000 to fight the tobacco tax increase that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The Raise It For Health North Dakota coalition wants to raise the state's 44-cent cigarette tax another $1.76 per pack, to $2.20. Tax on other tobacco products, including liquid nicotine for electronic cigarettes, would increase 28 percent to 56 percent.
North Dakota ranks 47th among states in tax paid by smokers. Retailers have successfully fought off several attempts to raise the state's tobacco tax in the past two decades.