BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Rep. Harold Ritchie withdrew his measure that would have raised the cigarette tax by $105 per pack from its current 36 cents per pack, the Monroe News Star reports. The proposal also would have jacked up the tax on cigars and other tobacco products threefold.

Ritchie said he made the move when he felt that the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee was leaning towards sinking the bill after an hour of testimony and review. “I’m a good vote counter,” said Ritchie, indicating he knew not enough committee members would vote for the bill

The state’s convenience store owners told the committee how such a move would likely trigger store closures and worker reductions. Supporters said raising the state’s tobacco tax would contribute to lower smoking among adults and youth. 

Two other cigarette tax hike measures by Reps. Kirk Talbot and Katrina Jackson were put on hold after Ritchie yanked his bill. Talbot’s proposal would bump the cigarette tax up 32 cents to 68 cents per tax with the funds designated for Medicaid.