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Anti-smoking group proposes raising cigarette tax
TweetCOLUMBUS — Most Ohioans support increasing taxes on cigarettes instead of cutting services or increasing other taxes, according to a survey released by an anti-smoking group Wednesday.
The study, conducted in late January, was commissioned by the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
A total of 64 percent of 808 likely Ohio voters polled said they preferred increasing the state cigarette tax from the current $1.25 level to help balance the state budget.
Less than 35 percent supported increasing sales or income taxes or funding cuts to health care and other state services.
The groups say increasing Ohio’s cigarette tax by $1 would bring in nearly $300 million in additional revenues each year and would save the state more than $2 billion in health care costs, as fewer people start smoking and more people quit.
“Anytime the tax goes up, the consumption goes down,” said Beverly May, a director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Shelly Kiser, director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Ohio, said the groups will use the survey results to push state lawmakers to consider a cigarette tax increase.
Comments
People will buy cigarettes in neighboring states.
These groups can piss-off. Smokers are people, too. We get #$%#ed every time our state government @$&*'s up. When are they going to start raising the taxes on booze?? Drunks around the state would piss themselves, as would all the bars, stores, etc. that sell booze, because then, as is assumed when taxes are raised, consumption would go down, yeah right..tell that to an alcoholic... no offense is meant here, because I do smoke, and yes I will go out of state to buy my smokes because I hate to give money spent on what I enjoy to the State of Ohio, because the other states won't punish me for enjoying my freedoms.
Simple economics. Sales aren't declining so the tax must not be high enough.
Honestly, they should raise the alcohol tax before the tobacco ones again...and I drink and not smoke!
I use to smoke and every time they need more tax money they tax cigs well if they need more tax money tax something we all use toilet tissue we all have to wipe our asses at one point
Just love how these lobbyists poll a small group of people and think they speak for everyone in the state.
They don't.
Not to mention, I'm quite sure the polls ask a cherry picked list.
I think if an open poll were held, many would vote to get rid of these leeching lobbyists. Governors of more than one state in economic decline want to use the funds these organizations suck up for things that are more immediate.
All I hear is desperation from the likes of Kiser in the last two years. Get a real job. I'm a musician and I provide a service people want if anyone wants to "get smart" about a musician having a real job.
At least it is an honest job, unlike these lobbyists who fleece the public with their "health and safety" agendas. The "health and safety" of their wallets is their only agenda and it's time people wake up and see them for what they are.
When was the last time you saw a poll that didn't support the reason for starting the poll? I know of one that was definitely biased. When the caller ask their survey questions and the first answer was, I am 85years old and I have smoked for 50 years, the caller immediately hung up. It isn't hard to make a poll biased. It's not hard to dismiss answers that are not wanted. Polls are just a form of advertisement. Do you believe every advertisement you hear?
This the most unscientific way to substantiate anything. Epidemiology is incapable of pinpointing any cause of disease. It's nothing more than a poll that depends on memory. Questions can be slanted to get the needed response.
It's all slanted to keep the money rolling in.
States are going to be very disappointed. Of the last 40 states to pass a new cigarette tax only 8 saw a rise in revenue and the others saw as much as a 68% drop. With this new Federal tax there is going to be an even a larger drop in revenue. When will these idiots understand they are taxing poor people into quitting with no hope of generating more income. You cannot hope to increase revenue and drive the very thing you are taxing out of business. This is going to cost the Federal and State Governments the Billions they are hoping to get plus Billions less than they are receiving now. Greed and stupidity are not a good mix. One Senator, on the floor of the Senate, said we will need 22 million new smokers to keep the SCHIP program funded. Without new smokers it will fail within 2 to 4 years. Has anyone noticed that smoking has gone from 54% to less than 20.4%? Looks like the smokers will be joined by all the Non-Smokers in paying for this SCHIP program the Anti-Smokers are so proud of. Then you will hear some real bitching. Being open to others being over taxed comes back to bite you and it will. It’s called Socialism and other ism’s we won’t like.
TAX the LOTTERY! TAX candy, soda/pop and all fattening foods. More taxes on LUXURY items.
Ohioans are already 7th highest taxed in the nation according to the Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org). Rather than continue looking for ways to raise taxes, how about this novel thought…we try to reduce spending. Employers and people are leaving this state in droves and all we can think to do is keep raising taxes on those who decide to stay. We need to live within our means and look for ways to keep people in Ohio instead of giving them more reasons to leave. Half of any price increase on tobacco will be paid by smokers with annual incomes under $30,000. Border counties such as Mahoning will lose retail business because people will just buy their cigarettes and gas in other states and do other shopping there as well. It's easy to say "let's just raise taxes on smokers...who cares." Let's actually think this trough. This will impact us all!