Senator urges repeal of tax on tours

The leader of the Rhode Island Senate said a new tax on sightseeing tickets should be repealed. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat, said yesterday that she would seek to eliminate the tax in next year’s legislative session. The General Assembly voted two months ago to impose the state’s 7 percent sales tax on tickets for sightseeing tours. The tax takes effect Oct. 1 and is expected to generate just over $1 million annually. Paiva Weed said she has heard from tourism leaders who say it will hurt tourism. (AP)