US: Reaction to Tomblin''s Tobacco Tax Proposal

Source from:  13WOWKTV 01/15/2016

Mixed but pointed reactions came in Thursday to West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's across the board tobacco tax proposal. 13 News found many of you think it's a tax that either will not help the economy, or will help cut tobacco use in the Mountain State.

"I don't want to pay more taxes; I smoke and use e-cigarettes,"Zach Martin told us.

Both items are included, and then some. The proposal is to increase state profits by a 45 cent increase to one dollar per cigarette pack. To raise snuff tax from 7-12 percent.

A new e-cigarette tax at 7.5 % per milliliter of nicotine fluid.　Some e-cigarette users said that penalizes something they think is healthier than tobacco.

 "I feel better when I use it, I can breathe better," Zach Martin again.

"If they want to make more money off it, quit selling cigarettes, if we can't get it we can't buy," Joann Kitts was blunt.

While banning cigarettes isn't likely, some working out at the Huntington YMCA hoped more tobacco tax means less tobacco use

"Its great, tobacco is dangerous, I'm a pediatrician and I see how it affects kids their entire lives, so it's a good idea," Jamie Bailes told 13 News

Huntington smoke shop manager Patrick Miler said the tax will hurt the economy as border stores will suffer.

"We have a lot of Ohio customers who come here to avoid higher taxes; they won't come if this passes," Miller said

Miller says the popular roll your own cigarette materials will sell even more, since they're not under the tobacco tax proposal.

Tomblin hopes the legislature quickly passes the tobacco tax proposals so they can begin collecting the added revenue April1st. Enditem