Texas may snuff out smoking for anyone younger than 21
AUSTIN — This could be the year Texas raises the smoking age to 21.
For a decade, the concept has been a pipe dream of Democrats and doctors bent on finding ways to keep Texans, especially kids, from picking up the habit. But this year it has backing from some powerful Republicans whose support could mean Texas will become just the third state to hike its smoking age above 19.
“We can move this bill forward,” said Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican and physician who will champion the effort in the House. He will be joined by Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, who will each file a bill.
Raising the minimum legal age to buy products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco has been the goal of Texas Democrats for at least a decade. But with Republicans decrying the effort as an infringement on personal liberty that could cost the state millions of dollars in lost tax revenue, the wish went up in smoke every time it was proposed.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2017/01/16/texas-may-snuff-smoking-anyone-younger-21
