Obesity exacts a higher toll on health and healthcare costs than either smoking or drinking as serious obesity-related problems like diabetes are near epidemic levels, according to a study released on Tuesday.
Posted on 05/08/2002 5:39:09 AM PDT by SheLion
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- As state legislators and the governor wrestle with the state's estimated $750 million budget shortfall, a new poll shows that Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support a significant increase in the state's tobacco tax to keep kids from smoking and to raise revenue for the state.
Three out of four Pennsylvania voters (75 percent) support a $1 per pack increase in the state's tobacco tax as part of an effort to reduce tobacco use, particularly among kids, with the revenue used to reduce the state's budget deficit. This support comes from a broad-based coalition of voters, including 76 percent of Republicans polled and 73 percent of Democrats polled. Just 24 percent of voters oppose an increase in the tobacco tax. The overwhelming support does not diminish for an even higher tax increase: 73 percent of voters also favor a $1.50 per pack increase in the state tobacco tax.
The survey of 646 registered Pennsylvania voters was released today by a coalition of health groups, including the Pennsylvania divisions of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association, and the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT).
In announcing its results, the sponsors pronounced the tobacco tax as a WIN, WIN, WIN for Pennsylvania. The science and the poll together clearly demonstrate that an increase in the state's tobacco excise tax is a win for public health, a win for the state's fiscal health, and even a win for the political health of politicians who support it.
"The cigarette tax, combined with a well-funded, sustained comprehensive tobacco prevention program, is a proven strategy to protect thousands of Pennsylvania kids from addiction to tobacco while, at the same time, helping the state address the budget crisis," said Garry Pincock, Chief Executive Officer, American Cancer Society. He continued, "The state legislature should listen to the people of Pennsylvania and act quickly to increase the tobacco tax."
"It's been proven across the country that raising cigarette taxes always increases state revenues and always reduces smoking. Economic research studies continue to confirm that raising cigarette prices reduces smoking, especially among the teen market," said Kathy Fackler, Chief Executive Officer, American Lung Association of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania voters also expressed a strong preference for increasing the tobacco tax over other tax increases or spending cuts to vital programs that may be necessary to balance the state's budget. Seventy-eight (78) percent of voters would favor the state legislature increasing the tobacco tax to help balance the state budget.
A few other options were supported by about half of Pennsylvania voters, including using the existing surplus in the state's Rainy Day Fund (51 percent), introducing video slot machines at the state's racetracks (51 percent), and introducing riverboat gambling to the state's river front locations (51 percent).
Other potential revenue sources receive far less support. These include the introduction of video lottery terminals at bars (43 percent), introducing casino-style gambling on Indian-owned lands (41 percent), delaying a reduction in the capital stock and franchise tax (39 percent), cutting funding for environmental programs (33 percent), increasing the state sales tax (26 percent), and increasing the state personal income tax rate (19 percent). Few Pennsylvania voters favor cuts in vital programs like education (11 percent) or health care (5 percent) to help balance the budget.
"Among the options that are on the table, increasing the tobacco tax is clearly the most preferred solution to the state's revenue crisis," said James Lee, President of Susquehanna Polling and Research, the firm that conducted the survey.
The survey also shows that Pennsylvania voters will express their support for a tobacco tax increase at the polls. By a margin of 71 percent to 19 percent, Pennsylvania voters would support a candidate for General Assembly who favors the tobacco tax over one who opposes it. Again, this strong preference crosses party lines as 73 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of Republicans choose the candidate who favors the tax.
Even more dramatically, voters of both parties are willing to cross party lines to vote for a candidate of the opposite party who supports the tobacco tax. By a margin of 57 percent to 30 percent, Republicans would support a Democrat who supports the tax over a member of their own party who opposes it. Likewise, Democrats prefer a Republican who supports the tax to a Democrat who opposes it by 56 percent to 30 percent.
"Clearly, the public views the tobacco tax in a separate category from income or other taxes, and they understand that this tax deters children from a deadly habit. Therefore, they are not inclined to punish lawmakers who support even a substantial tobacco tax increase," said Dr. James M. Fattu, President, American Heart Association of Pennsylvania and Delaware. "In fact, they are more likely to reward these legislators with their support."
A large body of economic research, numerous expert panels, experience in other states, and even the tobacco industry have concluded decisively that price increases are effective in reducing smoking, especially among youth. No less than the U.S. Surgeon General, in the 2000 report, Reducing Tobacco Use, concluded that raising cigarette taxes is widely regarded as one of the most effective tobacco prevention strategies and that such increases would lead to "substantial long-run improvements in health." Studies suggest that a $1 increase in Pennsylvania's tobacco tax would save more than 190,000 Pennsylvania kids alive today from tobacco addiction, preventing nearly 61,000 premature deaths from tobacco-related disease. The reductions in smoking that result from the tax would also save almost $3.4 billion in tobacco-related health care costs in Pennsylvania. The additional tax would provide an immediate revenue boost of more than $890 million in the first year alone to help balance the budget and fund vital programs.
The survey of 646 registered voters was conducted April 20-24, 2002 by Susquehanna Polling and Research, Inc., a survey research and political polling firm based in Harrisburg. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points.
SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids / American Cancer Society / American
Lung Association
And of COURSE the non-smoking voters want this tax. So THEY don't have to pay!!
"In fact, they are more likely to reward these legislators with their support." Sure! Pennsylvania is in the pocket of the Robert Wood JOHNSON Foundation.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
And more Republicans are turning against us and turning in RINO'S. What's UP with this!
Obesity exacts a higher toll on health and healthcare costs than either smoking or drinking as serious obesity-related problems like diabetes are near epidemic levels, according to a study released on Tuesday.
SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids / American Cancer Society / American Lung Association
Remember when we had a Constitutional Republic?
I grew up 15 minutes from the PA border. My family members and friends back there that smoke make regular trips to Smokin Joe's in PA to buy smokes.
Look, Wolfie, they put me in prison in '66-'67 trying to force me to stop smoking weed.
It didn't work, and in fact more people than ever are today clamoring for some aspect of weed legalization.
History has a way of repeating itself and the only way to stop this sh!t is to stand up, take it personally, fight like crazy and not slink away as they want us to.
How about firing a bunch of useless bureaucrats?
The bureaucrats and the corrupt gov't aparatchiks will always win for as long as the debate is over whose taxes are going to be raised (remember 'divide and conquer' anyone?) rather than why is the state spending more than it gets from the people?
As for the beneficial outcomes of higher 'sin' taxes, are there any studies documenting the probable increase in criminality that higher 'sin' taxes tend to generate?
Three hundred thousand people die each year due to obesity-related causes. In terms of dollar amounts, the study found that obesity raised healthcare costs by an average of $395 a year, while smoking increased costs by $230 and heavy drinking is associated with a $150 annual increase.
Obesity exacts a higher toll on health and healthcare costs than either smoking or drinking as serious obesity-related problems like diabetes are near epidemic levels, according to a study released on Tuesday.
We all know THAT'S a lie! It's all hype!
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