Speaker Tom Lloyd said the group decided a tobacco tax would impact a minority group.

Other members of the group said they were concerned that a cigarette tax would not be a stable source of funding for the state's Medicaid program because there is a push nationally to reduce smoking.

The Silver Haired Legislature, which sets priorities for legislation affecting senior citizens, will submit its proposals in December to the General Assembly and the governor for consideration.

It still must whittle down its list of 15 proposals to five.

Among the proposals was a plan to increase the tax on cars by eliminating the state's $300 sales tax cap and replace it with a 2 percent sales tax on all vehicles.

That would be more fair, Lloyd said, because it would affect the majority of people in South Carolina.

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