Thursday, January 08, 2009
Majority Of Kentucky Voters Support Cigarette Tax Increase.
Kentucky voters strongly support a substantial increase in the state cigarette tax, with 69 percent saying they would back a $1 increase, according to a new poll released today by a coalition of Kentucky health leaders.
The $1 cigarette tax increase is 30 cents more than the 70 cents proposed by Governor Beshear to help solve the state budget crisis, and would allow Kentucky to take a major step toward reducing its highest-in-the-nation smoking rate. Health leaders are calling on legislators to listen to Kentuckians and approve a substantial increase to the state’s 30-cent per pack cigarette tax, both to reduce smoking among kids and to generate critical new revenue.
"The cigarette tax is a proven strategy to protect thousands of Kentucky kids from tobacco addiction while, at the same time, helping the state address budget concerns," said Paul Kiser, Director of the state tobacco control coalition, Kentucky ACTION. "The Legislature should listen to the people of Kentucky and act quickly to increase the cigarette tax to at least $1 a pack."
Governor Beshear previously announced his plans to propose a 70-cent cigarette tax increase this year to help alleviate the state’s budget shortfall – an increase level that voters support by a more than two-to-one margin (68 percent to 30 percent), according to the poll results. But a $1 cigarette tax increase generated near identical support (69 percent), showing Beshear and other state leaders that voters are ready for a significant increase in the tax to raise much-needed revenue and reduce state smoking rates.
Support for a significant tobacco tax increase is evident among virtually every political and demographic subgroup of voters in the Bluegrass State, as majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, men and women, young and old, and residents of all parts of the state support the tax. "The cigarette tax is clearly not a partisan issue," said pollster Glen Bolger of the polling firm Public Opinion Strategies.
The survey of 500 registered Kentucky voters was released by a coalition of health groups led by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kentucky ACTION and Kentucky Voices for Health. In announcing its results, the group declared a cigarette tax increase a "trifecta" win for Kentucky.
"A $1 increase in the state’s cigarette excise tax is a win for public health because it will reduce smoking, particularly among kids; it’s a win for the state’s fiscal health because it will raise more than $275 million in new annual revenues for the state, and it’s and a win for politicians who support it because of overwhelming voter support," said Mike Kuntz, Senior Director of Advocacy, American Lung Association of the Midland States.
The $1 cigarette tax increase is 30 cents more than the 70 cents proposed by Governor Beshear to help solve the state budget crisis, and would allow Kentucky to take a major step toward reducing its highest-in-the-nation smoking rate. Health leaders are calling on legislators to listen to Kentuckians and approve a substantial increase to the state’s 30-cent per pack cigarette tax, both to reduce smoking among kids and to generate critical new revenue.
"The cigarette tax is a proven strategy to protect thousands of Kentucky kids from tobacco addiction while, at the same time, helping the state address budget concerns," said Paul Kiser, Director of the state tobacco control coalition, Kentucky ACTION. "The Legislature should listen to the people of Kentucky and act quickly to increase the cigarette tax to at least $1 a pack."
Governor Beshear previously announced his plans to propose a 70-cent cigarette tax increase this year to help alleviate the state’s budget shortfall – an increase level that voters support by a more than two-to-one margin (68 percent to 30 percent), according to the poll results. But a $1 cigarette tax increase generated near identical support (69 percent), showing Beshear and other state leaders that voters are ready for a significant increase in the tax to raise much-needed revenue and reduce state smoking rates.
Support for a significant tobacco tax increase is evident among virtually every political and demographic subgroup of voters in the Bluegrass State, as majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, men and women, young and old, and residents of all parts of the state support the tax. "The cigarette tax is clearly not a partisan issue," said pollster Glen Bolger of the polling firm Public Opinion Strategies.
The survey of 500 registered Kentucky voters was released by a coalition of health groups led by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kentucky ACTION and Kentucky Voices for Health. In announcing its results, the group declared a cigarette tax increase a "trifecta" win for Kentucky.
"A $1 increase in the state’s cigarette excise tax is a win for public health because it will reduce smoking, particularly among kids; it’s a win for the state’s fiscal health because it will raise more than $275 million in new annual revenues for the state, and it’s and a win for politicians who support it because of overwhelming voter support," said Mike Kuntz, Senior Director of Advocacy, American Lung Association of the Midland States.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 1:20 PM 
