US: Wyoming Lawmakers Consider Increasing Cigarette Tax

Source from:  Washington Times 10/22/2015

A Wyoming legislative panel has recommended increasing a tobacco tax to bring down the state's smoking rate, but shied away from naming a particular amount.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Wyoming current taxes cigarettes at 60 cents a pack, well below the national average of $1.58. The state's smoking rate, meanwhile, is 20.6 percent while the national average is 17.8 percent.

American Cancer Society representative Jason Mincer told the Labor and Health committee that to cut smoking rates, the state needs to make the tax high enough that people notice the difference when buying a pack.

The recommendation now makes its way to the Joint Revenue Committee, which meets next month in Cheyenne. Those lawmakers will decide whether to draft legislation on the issue. Enditem