Former U.S. Surgeons General Have Plan to Cut Smoking ($2 per pack)

ap ^ | 2/3/04

[knak]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Four former surgeons general on Tuesday unveiled a plan to reduce smoking that included a $2-per-pack tax they predicted would prompt at least 5 million smokers to quit.

They also called for a nationwide counseling and support line for smokers trying to quit, an idea that immediately was put into practice by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

Thompson said more than $25 million would be dedicated for the toll-free, national "quitline" that will be established by year's end. States also would receive additional funding to either supplement or create their own quitline services.

"The benefit of this network is that it provides a single access point for smokers so that every smoker can get the tools that he or she needs to stop smoking," Thompson said.

The 10-point plan endorsed by the former surgeons general and other health advocates seeks additional tobacco research, better doctor training and an extensive media campaign explaining the dangers of smoking.

It also urges that the cigarette excise tax be raised from the current 39 cents to $2.39, of which 50 percent of the proceeds - or $14 billion - would go toward paying for the various aspects of the plan.

About 50 million Americans smoke, with many of them concentrated in poor neighborhoods where treatment is not widely available. Health officials have estimated that smoking causes about 440,000 premature deaths per year and costs the nation $75 billion in direct health care expenses.

"It is the equivalent of another 9-11 World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania disaster occurring about every two days," said Dr. Julius Richmond, the nation's top public health official under President Carter from 1977 to 1981.

About three out of four smokers seek to quit, but fewer than 5 percent who quit for a day are able to sustain that for longer periods.

"If we act now, we can prevent tomorrow's cancer, emphysema and health disease," said Dr. David Satcher, who served under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush from 1998-2002.

Jennifer Golisch, a spokeswoman for tobacco giant Philip Morris USA Inc., said the company supports government efforts to educate the public about smoking, such as the national quitline.

But a $2-per-pack excise tax could promote counterfeiting and illegal sales over the Internet as smokers try to avoid the higher prices, she said.

The 10-point plan also calls for federal officials to:

-Encourage insurers to provide health coverage for smoking cessation treatment, such as counseling and drugs.

-Initiate community-based programs in schools, workplaces and faith-based organizations to combat smoking.

-Establish a uniform standard of tobacco dependence treatment among health care providers.

Others supporting the 10-point plan Tuesday were former surgeons general Dr. C. Everett Koop, who served under Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush from 1981-89, and Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, who served under President Nixon from 1969-73, as well as the American Public Health Association, the University of Wisconsin's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention and the American Legacy Foundation.

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[dts32041]

Yeah and when the farmers start squawking about losing money, the money will be routed to them for subsides, after demo rats and pubbies have taken their vig out.

[conservative cat]

Ummm. Ok. Black market smokes, anyone?

[TomServo]

Roll yer own...

[humboldtconservative]

Thompson said more than $25 million would be dedicated for the toll-free, national "quitline" that will be established by year's end. States also would receive additional funding to either supplement or create their own quitline services.

Why don't they offset the cost of Nicorette or Nicotrol instead of some stupid phone number with a whiny lib to "help you through it".?

[NotQuiteCricket]

included a $2-per-pack tax they predicted would prompt at least 5 million smokers to quit.
If it is so horrible, make it illegal already!

[jwalsh07]

Stupidity.

[ServesURight]

Cigarette revenues are going into the pockets of politicians and their lawyers anyway. They don't give a rip about stopping smoking.

Really disappointed in Tommy Thompson. He was a good Governor here in WI but drunk the Washington koolaid.

[cripplecreek]

I allready do, and im paying less than ten dollars per carton.

[Argus]

Let's tax abortions and see if fewer people have them when the price becomes prohibitive.

[humboldtconservative]

If it is so horrible, make it illegal already!

Not as long as they are collecting tax revenue...

[lelio]

If the government wanted to curb smoking they could do it by tying benefits to non-smoking. If they offered an extra $10 a month to welfare families that are a certified non-smoking family it could cause a dent. Have some penalities in case they are lying.

The medical cost reductions alone would easily cover the extra $120 a year per family.

[dts32041]

you can't do that because if it costs to much, the government will pay for it.

To a professional pole cat everything is a chance to tax someone to give to someone else.

Doesn't matter if it is a pubbie or a demo rat, They want to feel good by ripping someone off to pay for someone else's pain.

[secretagent]

Expand the War on Some Drug Users bump.

[djf]

Blatantly unconstitutional. And since these Surgeons General are not part of Congress, borderline treasonous.

It is inaccurate and misleading to speak of the exaction from processors prescribed by the challenged act as a tax, or to say that as a tax it is subject to no infirmity. A tax, in the general understanding of the term, and as used in the Constitution, signifies an exaction for the support of the Government. The word has never been thought to connote the expropriation of money from one group for the benefit of another. We may concede that the latter sort of imposition is constitutional when imposed to effectuate regulation of a matter in which both groups are interested and in respect of which there is a power of legislative regulation. But manifestly no justification for it can be found unless as an integral part of such regulation. The exaction cannot be wrested out of its setting, denominated an excise for raising revenue, and legalized by ignoring its purpose as a mere instrumentality for bringing about a desired end. To do this would be to shut our eyes to what all others than we can see and understand. Child Labor Tax Case, 259 U.S. 20, 37.
Butler v US, 297 US 1 at 61

[NotQuiteCricket]

Not as long as they are collecting tax revenue...
I know. :(

There is a thread around here somewhere about predatory/prey balance. I wonder if those numbers could be applied to things like taxation. This just raises the question, how much money is too much money? Although, I buy mine on an indian reservation, so this may or may not get to me.

[Bubba_Leroy]

What a wonderful idea. Right now, big profits in drug smuggling are limited to the fortunate few with the right contacts. By upping taxes on cigarettes, they will make big smuggling profits available for anyone.

[xrp]

$2 per pack is racist against the poor, minorities, women and children. The rich white devil will be the only one who is able to afford cigarettes now.

[TomServo]

I allready do, and im paying less than ten dollars per carton.

Got a link to primo hardware and tobacco? I'd like to take a look, please. TIA...

[11Bush]

You really ought to think about running for office. You have all of the skills necessary. On your first proposal, you have managed to spend more than GW's medicare bill.

Your program would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $600,000,000 per year. And that is only if a percentage of smokers quit. Of course, this figure does not include the graft, kickbacks, and other under the table deals. Nor does it take in account the human nature of stealing.

Thanks, but no thanks. And by the way, keep your damn hands out of my pockets. Or were you going to fund this bright idea with funds found growing on the money tree?