HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2223

Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill 532.

Senate Bill 532 is a needed measure which was intended
to shift the imposition of the tax on the sale of cigarettes
from the retail to the wholesale level.

Unfortunately, the Comptroller advises me that this
bill and another similar measure, as amended:

... are so replete with errors, omissions, and
other deficiencies of one kind or another, that
the purposes of the sponsors have been wholly
thwarted and, should either be signed, hopeless
confusion will result.

See, letter of April 23, 1979, which is appended hereto
and made a part of this message.

For these reasons, I reluctantly have decided to veto
Senate Bill 532.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

April 23, 1979

Judson P. Garrett, Jr., Esquire

Chief Legislative Officer

Executive Department

State House

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Re: Senate Bill 532

Cigarettes - Sales Tax, Use Tax, and Sales

House Bill 1236

Cigarettes — Sales Tax, Use Tax, and Sales

Dear Mr. Garrett:

Senate Bill 532 and House Bill 1236 are largely
identical bills apparently intended to shift the imposition
of the sales tax on sales of cigarettes from the retail to
the wholesale level. Regrettably, the bills as passed are
so replete with errors, omissions, and other deficiencies of
one kind or another, that the purposes of the sponsors have
been wholly thwarted and, should either be signed, hopeless
confusion will result.