U.S. spending deal would raise tobacco age, repeal some Obamacare taxes
WASHINGTON - Congress would raise the U.S. tobacco purchasing age to 21 and permanently repeal several of the Affordable Care Act’s taxes under a massive government spending bill due to be released later on Monday, congressional sources said.
The legislation, worked out during weeks of negotiations between leading lawmakers and the Trump administration, denies President Donald Trump the spending increase he has sought to build his signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The crackdown on youth smoking, by changing the minimum age for cigarette and other tobacco purchases to 21 from the current 18, would give the Food and Drug Administration six months to develop regulations. The agency would then have three years to work with states on implementing the change.
Some of the money would be used to harden infrastructure against cyber attacks following election meddling by Russia in 2016. It calls for a permanent repeal of the so-called “Cadillac tax,” a 40% tax on generous health insurance plans.
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