UPDATE: SC legislators take up cigarette tax increase

A plan to raise South Carolina’s cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack could hit a snag after the Senate’s top Democrat said it doesn’t expand current Medicaid programs.
   
A Senate Finance subcommittee approved the bill 3-1 on Tuesday despite the objections of Senate Minority Leader John Land of Manning.
   
He said the state is wasting money on plans to use money generated by the tax to fund a new health insurance program. Land said it should be used to expand existing health care programs that help poor residents.
   
Orangeburg Democrat Sen. John Matthews said he also would try to kill the bill if it doesn’t change.
   
South Carolina’s tax is the nation’s lowest at 7 cents. If approved, the bill would generate $139 million to cover credits for low income residents to buy health insurance.