US: Hike Cigarette Pack Tax $1.60

Source from:  Trib Live 11/16/2015

More than 9,000 Pennsylvania kids become daily smokers every year, and a third of them will die prematurely as a result. State leaders struggling to end a budget impasse could save lives and generate new revenue by increasing the cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack, which is advocated by major public health groups such as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

This solution is a triple-win. It's a health win that will reduce tobacco use and save lives, a financial win that will generate state revenue and a political win that wil be popular with voters.

Good luck finding that combination on other issues.

The tobacco industry might support a small, phased-in cigarette tax increase. It can easily undermine the increase by discounting the product to keep people smoking. That would generate some revenue, but health care costs from tobacco use will climb.

Cigarette tax increases reduce use only through a noticeable increase in the price of cigarettes. A large price increase is more difficult for the tobacco industry to offset, leading to decreased use, particularly among kids, and reduced health care costs.

Republican House Speaker Mike Turzai and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa are key players in the budget negotiations. They can prove that both parties are choosing the health of our children over the interests of the tobacco industry by passing the highest possible tobacco tax increase. Enditem