Connecticut Governor’s Mom Fumes Over Tax

A 61-cent increase in Connecticut’s cigarette tax has Gov. John Rowland in trouble with his mother.

Cerie Rowland, 70 and a pack-a-day smoker, blasted the increase pushed by her son as unfair. “Why pick on us? It’s absolutely illogical.”

Not content to voice her unhappiness to her son, Rowland is leading a campaign by her eight-member bridge club--all smokers--to fight the higher tax.

She also complained that the tax was not extended to cigars, pipes and other forms of tobacco. The governor is known to enjoy an occasional cigar.

“My mother’s been hard at work,” the governor said after the Legislature approved his plan to raise the cigarette tax from 50 cents to $1.11 per pack as of April 3.