The House narrowly defeated an effort to increase the legal smoking age in Vermont from 18 to 21 Wednesday.
The measure, from Rep. George Till, D-Jericho, came in the form of an amendment to a bill that limits the use and sale of electronic cigarettes.
The House Human Services Committee, which led the charge on the e-cigarette bill, opted not to support the measure by a vote of 9 to 1, with one member not voting. Rep. Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, who reported the bill on the floor, said the committee had not taken any testimony on raising the smoking age.
But, despite the opposition from the committee, there was a groundswell of support for Till’s amendment on the House floor.
The bill won 71 votes in favor, and 71 votes opposed.
According to House rules, in the event of a tie, the vote fails.
House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morrisville, who can cast a vote when there is a tie, declined to vote on the amendment.
After the vote, Smith said that it was a “tough balance.”
“I didn’t want to vote against the committee,” Smith said. “At the same time, I felt this was an issue of real importance.”
Krowinski said that the House Human Services Committee may consider the amendment as a separate bill.
