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Cigarette Taxes
Raised! Online
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Cigarettes are the Way to Save!
US
Considering $2 Per Pack of Cigarettes Tax Raise!
— Feb 19 2003, By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
Thompson said on Wednesday he was considering the possibility of raising
the federal cigarette tax to $2 a pack -- from the current 39 cents --
as recommended by an advisory committee.
Last week, the HHS' Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health approved
a plan for the steep increase in the tax. Half the money raised would be
allocated for initiatives to help people stop smoking.
Anti-tobacco campaigners immediately welcomed the decision and pressured
the government to accept.
"We urge the administration and Congress to act quickly and aggressively
to implement this plan," William Carr, executive vice president at the
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement.
"If they do so, it would represent an unprecedented national commitment
to address the leading preventable cause of death and disease in our
country. The committee estimates its plan would prevent three million
premature deaths and help five million smokers to quit."
Health experts say smoking is the biggest single cause of preventable
death, killing 400,000 people every year from heart disease and cancer.
Thompson said Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who chaired the
committee, was coming up with a recommendation for him.
"I haven't made a decision on the tax but I like the concept of a fund,"
Thompson told reporters. "I think the general premise of setting up some
sort of fund to give dollars back to people who want to quit smoking is
good."
Thompson said 70 percent of smokers wanted to quit but could not get the
support, including drugs, to do so.
He said he raised cigarette taxes while governor of Wisconsin, but added
the issue of a tax was problematic politically.
Several studies have shown that raising the price of cigarettes can
deter smokers, especially teen-agers.
In 1998, states reached a settlement with tobacco companies in which
they received $246 billion over 25 years to pay for the costs of
smoking-related illnesses.
Anti-smoking campaigners say states have recently been raiding those and
other tobacco-prevention funds to cover budget deficits.
 On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty suggested eliminating the
state's youth tobacco prevention fund, using the cash to cover the
state's budget deficit.
--excerpt
from ABC News - for informational purposes.
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