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Mass. Tax Hikes Kicking In On Gasoline, Cigarettes
Higher taxes on gasoline and cigarettes are kicking in for Massachusetts consumers.
The state's gasoline tax jumps 3 cents Wednesday, from 21 cents per gallon to 24 cents. The excise tax on cigarettes is also increasing $1 to $3.51 per pack.
The state has alerted retailers to begin collecting the new taxes, which were part of a transportation finance bill approved by the Legislature over the veto of Gov. Deval Patrick.
Patrick had sought a further increase in the gas tax if tolls on the western portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike come down in 2017.
Massachusetts Republicans are planning to criticize the tax hikes at a morning press conference with business owners at a gas station in the Dorchester section of Boston.
The law also imposes a 6.25 percent sales tax on computer software services.
This program aired on July 31, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.