Tobacco Tax Increase Will Save Wisconsin Lives

Senate approves 75-cent per pack tax increase in state budget

Madison, WI – Fewer Wisconsin kids will start smoking and more adults will quit thanks to a 75-cent per pack cigarette tax increase included in the State Senate passed version of the Wisconsin budget.

Making cigarettes more expensive is proven to be one of the most effective means to reduce tobacco use and thereby reduce the number of needless tobacco-related cancer deaths.

“As an organization dedicated to fighting cancer, we’re happy the State Senate included this important public health measure as part of their budget. Fewer people smoking means fewer cancer deaths, fewer health care dollars spent on tobacco-related illness and improved public health”, said Catherine Peters, Wisconsin Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society.

The tax increase is estimated to stop 33,000 kids in Wisconsin from starting smoking and prompt 17,000 adults to quit.

Wisconsin spends $2 billion annually on tobacco-related health care costs, $500 million of which comes direct from taxpayers in the form of Medicaid payments.

“Raising the cigarette tax makes sense especially considering the state’s budget deficit. This increase will save lives and save the state money,” said Peters. “Our only concern is the increase comes as tobacco control money is being cut. We want to make sure smokers have the resources they need to quit.”

Tobacco control funding, including money that pays for the state’s tobacco Quit Line, was cut from $15 million a year to $6.8 million in the Senate’s budget.

“Everyone is struggling in this economy and we understand programs need to be scaled back, but we want to make sure services like the Quit Line have the resources necessary to help all of the smokers who are ready to quit,” explained Peters.

Wisconsin’s Quit Line received a record number of calls after the state implemented a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase in 2008.

If approved by the Assembly, the .75-cent per pack tax increase, which was first proposed by Governor Doyle in his version of the budget, will bring the total Wisconsin cigarette tax to $2.52 per pack. The increase comes less than a month after the state passed a comprehensive smoke-free law, ending workplace smoking starting July 5, 2010.

“The cigarette tax coupled with the statewide smoke-free law will go a long way in reducing Wisconsin’s cancer burden. We commend state lawmakers and the Governor for their support in helping fight cancer in Wisconsin by passing these important measures,” said Peters.

Posted @ 9:00 a.m.