JACKSON — House Speaker Billy McCoy, (D)- Rienzi and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Percy Watson, (D)- Hattiesburg easily defeated Republican opposition to a cigarette tax increase of up to $1.00 per pack.

The dollar a pack increase will bring in a estimated revenue increase of $200 million a year.

“What we hope this vote will do is to reassure those around the state who are concerned about the governors’ cuts that the Speaker of the House and Democratic leadership of the House is firmly committed to public education and public schools,” Watson said.

“The Speaker and the Democratic Leadership of the House of Representatives wants every teacher, student and parent in Mississippi to know that we are going to do everything in our power to ensure that our education system is fully funded,” said Tyrone Ellis (D)- Starkville, and the Majority Leader of the Mississippi House of Representatives.

“We will not dig our way out of bad times by de-funding education, we will only dig ourselves a deeper whole,” said Rep. Brandon Jones (D)- Pascagoula, who gave the response to the State of the State address.

“The House is lined up behind Speaker Billy McCoy in support of his efforts to make sure our schools, universities and public health systems are adequately funded,” Rep. Warner McBride, (D)-Batesville said.

The bill now goes to the Senate for their approval.