Should South Carolina raise cigarette taxes by 22 cents a pack with the money going to fund health care programs?
- I am all for increasing the cigarette tax and while they are at it, increase the tax on other luxury items such as movie tickets, cruises and concert an sports event tickets, alcoholic beverages, sodas, furs, boats, trailors and motor homes. Raise the car tax cap to increase the tax on luxury vehicles anything over $30,000. If Hodges doesn't want to lose the next election I suggest he not veto the tax increase so that it will mean that money will be going to support the medical programs in SC. But since he has tunnelvision as it relates to Education he fails to see that this states economic future is suffering. Hodges is running us into the ground. Yet all he thinks about is Education. Most of us are overburdened by taxes and poor middle class feel that we have given Education enough.
SP, Lexington - I do not think smokers should have to be responsible for everything that is wrong in the world. there are many things that are just as bad as smoking for our health. The cigarette industry has already paid an outlandish money amount to pay for health care, and our politicans have spent it on everything else other than health. Also the price of cigarettes are already unfair. NOTE: I AM A NON SMOKER BUT FEEL THE SMOKERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY ENOUGH!
bk, columbia - No taxes is needed.the crooks are attempting to pass the buck.They made the mess,let them clean it up.There is still plenty of fat and pork to eliminate.What about the members on boards,commissions and committees who is paid to serve?The people should be outraged at this attempt to raise taxes for healthcare by way of cigarettes.Stupid is,stupid does.
cl, union - Absolutely should raise cigaretter tax by 22 cents per pack to fund health care program. Medicaid needs the funds badly what better source than taxing something that has harmed the health of so many. SC cigarette tax is too low to discourage smoking.
PD, Orangeburg - Absolutely not. We don't need another tax on top of all the other taxes.
HS, Columbia - sock it to them....yes
jd, cayce - By raising taxes on cigarettes the state becomes dependant on the money raised by the taxes. As the state becomes dependant on the the money it becomes dependant on smokers and to keep money coming in at a rate needed to fund medicare, the state needs for the numbers of smokers to stay the same or grow. The state will need as many smokers as will do so just to keep the money coming in. The state at some point will have to promote smoking just to keep taxes at a rate high enough to fund medicare.
MS, Batesburg - yes they should. probably even more. as a healthcare worker I see alarge number of people with chronic health problems directly related or linked to tobacco use or abuse. I think it is a concious decision to smoke or use tobacco, so they should pay toward the health care programs that all smokers at some point will use to excess.people who are obese are penalized by having to pay higher premiums for insurance because of increased risk factors for chronic illnesses so why shouldn't smokers have to do the same. they have a choice noone twists their arms & forces them to smoke.
mg, lexington - a tax is a tax is a tax a NO is a NO is a NO
bm, w columbia - Raise taxes to fund heath care programs? Absolutely not. Health care officials need to take a serious look at that those receiving assistance and re-evaluate if they are truely in need of assistance.
SB, Hopkins - I am definitely in favor of the cigarette tax to fund Medicaid
TB, Blythewood - This question hits close to home;I am on disabitily and have to depend on medicaid for the 15 antiviral and preventative prescriptions that I must take to stay alive and well to take care of two little children.I thank the taxpayers and legislators every time I take my medicine and am real lucky to be getting treatment.To cut out these programs would force poor people like myself to do without;I can't afford such costs.Cigarettes should be taxed;liquor and beer should be taxed also;consumption of these vices often result in medical problems in the end.Medicaid sometimes has to pick up such tabs.I also think that we should have some lottery games added to what we already have that the proceeds could go just to this program;the lottery we have seems to be going well.You know,say that this game's proceeds were going to this good cause.Medicaid and medicare are GOOD causes because they prevent the establishment of illness in poor folks;please remember that sickness shows no racial or economical boundaries.And sick people have hospital and medical bills that hurt insurance and medicare,very counterproductive to their success.People like to gamble on things that they know is going to good causes.BOTTOM LINE...I sure hope and pray for a solution SOON.I'd like to live a lot longer!!!
JB, Leesville - What, Republicans trying to raise taxes? Yes raise the tax. Now ask Charlie where the Money went from the settlement. He wants to be Gov. and he can't keep the money where it was suppose to go.
PR, Lexington - No. That's the dumbest thing I've heard so far.....Take the settlement money from the tobacco industry and use that. Have those funds been unwisely spent already? Why tax the citizens of SC because they smoke cigarettes. Sounds like a stupid idea to me.
ts, gaston - I don't think the cigarette tax should be raised anymore.The tax is already too high.But that shold not matter to the polititions anyway. We already voted to get rid of the property tax and no one listened then. That is taxation without representation. The people speak and no one listens.If they want to improve health care stop taking money out of it and placing into in the gen. fund to other places.
MK, West Columbia - Yes!!!Actually they should increase it by $1.50 or more. Each pack of cancer sticks costs society over $7.00 in increased medical costs etc., the more the drug costs the fewer people that use it. It particularly affectes beginning smokers, who are all underage to begin with. In the long term it will cause more adults to quit and fewer kids to start, and it will make life a little harder for the tobacco companies and their lapdog politicians like Hodges and the GOP. Strange bedfellows indeed!
GC, Columbia - Yes, I approve of raising cigarette tax.
AD, Columbia - Yes. I know smokers who say they would be willing to pay a higher tax on cigarettes to benefit health care OR that the tax would probably give them the motivation they need to finally quit smoking for good.
AD, Columbia - Yes-Yes-Yes
MA, Columbia - If there are cuts in medicaid then smokers should pay extra. Health care costs for smokers are higher than for most individuals.
TC, Sumter - I don’t care if this state raises the tax to a $1.00 a pack I get my cigarettes from out of SC anyway !! $6.50 A carton name brand. this is another way for the SOUTH CAROLINA "GOOD OLD BOYS" TO load their pockets again !!
MH, COLA. SC - Yes, I think they should. If you're gonna waste money on ruining your health, might as well help health care programs.
KC, Leesville - Most definitely. This money could help us nonsmokers with the bills we might incur due to allergic responses from cigarette smoke.
RB, Lexington - Yes. Out of 15 of my co-workers who smoke, only one had an objection to the increase of taxes on cigarettes. However, he stated that there was no excuse for our state's children with medical problems not to be taken care of finacially by our state, and that he would not stop smoking simply because of a tax increase on cigarettes. Is politics more important than our children's lives?
LS, Columbia - I strongly agree that the cigarette tax should increase,perhaps by more than 22 cents. However, I am dismayed to hear our governor already talking about a veto if the measure is passed in the legislature.As a healthcare provider, I deal daily with people suffering from the illnesses associated with cigarette smoke. I would certainly like nothing better than to see some action taken to help with funding the expensive medical care for many of the uninsured and underinsured citizens.I just don't understand how we can afford to turn down a chance to get an additional 83 million dollars with a federal match of 194 million dollars at a time when the state budget is facing unprecedented cuts and with no alternative plans being out forth.
lf, columbia,sc - Yes!yes!yes! That is the best thing that could happen cincerning taxes and medicaid. If cuts in Medicaid are cut, many people will die. The will have to choose either buy food, rent for a pace to live or medicine. What be the point of being able only to buy food and medicine?
MT, Union - After reading the responses as of 8:19pm, I join the TWO people concerned about what happened to the TOBACCO SETTLEMENT money from the Attorneys General lawsuit. ? Wasn't this settlement designated to help fund smoking related health care, to help tobacco farmers find alternate sources of income, and to find ways to prevent teen smoking? Couldn't this fund be used to help the ailing Medicaid program?
AB, SSMTER - Absolutely, I have just recently lost two friends to death from cancer associated with cigarette smoking, and have one sister to have lung cancer from exposure to cigarette smoke in her workplace. I have a wonderful 7 yr. old grandson who has multiple mental and physical handicapps. Both of his parents are hard workers, but without Tefra they cannot begin to meet his $1,400.00 monthly medication expenses alone. Cigarette taxes should be increased and the money be used for the handicapped children's medical expenses. Without the medication my grandson is taking, he will not grow and will have uncontrolled seizures. Not only will my grandson suffer, but thousands of other children may not be able to survive without this finacial assistance. Our state's children deserve the opportunity to live.
MS, Columbia - I don't think taxes should be raised to fund medicaid. I think the medicaid program should be re-evaluated. There are too many Medicaid recipients that know how to work the system. I work for a major emergency room, and I see people with weaves, beepers, cell phones, nails, unemployed who hand me their medicaid card. The attitude these people give us is that we owe them something. Also, most people with Medicaid use the ER as a primary doctor instead of getting their own family doctor. Most of the things we see like coughs, runny noses, and non-emergent things that could be treated over the counter at home instead of coming to the ER and using medicaid, saving them from spending $3.00 on motrin or tylenol. I have no problem with medicaid, as long as the recipient truely needs the help. There are too many out there who do not need it, they just use it as an excuse not to work. If these people were taken off Medicaid, the funds they use could be put towards people that really need the assistance and taxes would not have to be raised. well, I guess I'll cut to the chase.... the system is abused and it needs to be re-evaluated. Period!
KB, blythewood - Somehow, we have to save medicaid for the needy, however there is too much abuse of medicaid, lets cut out all of the abuse, not just fund the program and turn our heads. I work in public health, I see the abuse, Yes, raise the tax now if it will help save vital programs, but investigate the program and where are all of the monies going. For one the Family Support Program could be done away with. Unmarried, non-married women should be limited to the number of children they can have and then have a tubeligation. How far can we continue to go with this? People are having numerous amounts of children that they cannot take care of without public assistance.
AB, Chesterfield - Think it is a bad deal to add more tax to cigrettes. Medicade would not need any more money if the people in charge would do more checking on people receiving medicade.
JK, Wagener - The cigarette tax should be supported. I could write a book about what I have learned since 1999 when my husband and I established a 501c3, non-profit corporation to serve the elderly and disabled Medicaiid clients in Saluda County. (I would be interested to hear suggestions from the Board of the Palmetto Institute related to solving the disparity between the rich and the poor in South Carolina.)
NG, Lexington - Not only should taxes be raised on cigarettes, but alcohol as well, and a larger co-pay on prescription drugs for Medicaid recipients to avoid cuts in Medicaid services, especially prescription drugs since drug costs are so high--as high as $1200/mo for some people, who could possibly make a co-pay of $50/$60/mo. as opposed to the $1200/mo if prescription drugs are no longer covered
PO, Sumter - No I do not think the tax should be increased. What has happened to the money from the law suit? I quit smoking 9 months ago, but am tired of our state trying to "hold up" the tobacco people
PS, Columbia - I think this is a bad idea and once again shows how un-creative our legislators can be. I quit smoking almost 20 years ago, so I have no personal reason to oppose a higher tax on cigarttes. The state should look at better ways to spread the tax burden among all taxpayers instead of concentrating on smokers, drinkers, homeowners. I think it would be more fair to first eliminate sales taxes on essential for life items such as basic food items, eliminate the tax cap on automobiles, close all tax loopholes, and then go to a consumption based tax system. If you buy it, rent it, use it, or have someone do it for you, you pay a tax on it based on the true market value. As an example, if you can afford a $50,000 car then you can afford the $2,500 tax. If you can't, then buy a less expensive new car or a pre-owned.
TW, Chapin - Are these really Republicans trying to raise taxes? It is strange indeed that all three leading Republican candidates for governor - Sanford, Peeler and Condon - are former Democrats, and the current Democratic governor Hodges is the one who's going to fight the tax increase.
jm, lexington,sc - Given the fact that tobacco is one of the most useless products marketed to the public, I can't think of a better candidate for a tax increase. This is the best idea that's come out of the state house in 20 years. Now let's see if anyone has the guts to eliminate the tax on food, which in my opinion is a crime to the residents of this state.
CG, columbia - Yeah. And they should also raise food taxes so the fat people can pay for the medical costs they cause. And they should also raise liquor taxes to make the alkies pay for the damage they cause. And they should make single mothers pay higher taxes to pay for their lacks and for the things they drain from the system. And they should should make whining crybabies who go to the doctor with a COLD for Pete's sake, pay more taxes to make up for their laziness and waste. And they should make parents of smart students pay more taxes for the extra efforts they receive in school. And they should make parents of stupid students pay for the extra time wasted on them by teachers and other faculty. DOES IT EVER END??? Why don't we just figure up the cost of everything and raise EVERYBODY's TAXES - AGAIN!!
P.S. No, I'm not a smoker. I'm just sick to death of living among morons. Nothing is needed but a flat income tax. The politicians know it, and so does everybody else. They're just too stupid to change the system.
MH, Lexington - Increasing the tobacco tax is one of the only viable alternatives to keeping our state health care system afloat. There is a tremendous need for assistance with health care for the poor and elderly; the providers of these services mustbe compensated as well.
DD, West Columbia - if all of the proposed cigarette tax goes toward medicaid, the tax increase should be no less than $.50 per/pack
bp, columbia - I'm a Republican because I'm against raising taxes. And now I see my Republican legislators are trying to raise taxes and it's going to take a Democrat to stop it? What's going on???
MB, columbia,sc - Yes raise the tax. Raise the Tax on gasoline too. May get some of these people to want Public transport if the tax is very high.
RD, St Matthews SC - I'm a smoker and I support the tax. It is stupid to cut the Medicaid program and lose $3 dollars for every $1 the state puts in.
TS, Columbia - Absolutely, positively raise the cigarette tax!
MA, Columbia - No, smokers already pay more than their fair share of taxes
BH, Irmo - Yes. Many people are in need of health care because they smoke. Smoking does terrible things to many systems in the body. If and when serious health issues arise due to smoking, they will then need the health care programs and they should help fund them.
CK, Columbia - Everyone is picking on the smoker to raise revenues that will eventually be wasted by state government. Let's instead put a $1.00 tax on each fast food order to cut obesity. Obese people are far more sickly than most tobacco users.Let's tax alcohol out the roof to keep the drunk drivers off of the roads.They kill more people than tobacco does.If the government is looking for more revenue, bring the "VIDEO POKER" machines back to South Carolina where they belong. Maybe a few casinos at the beach.Hmmmmmm.Look at the tax money from these industries. SC needs to come out of the dark ages and join the real world.What. We still have "BLUE LAWS"? Come on guys,get with it.
PD, Lexington - Yes! Medicaid is the only health care available for many children and elderly people - our most vulnerable citizens. Smoking causes many health problems that cause people to seek medical care, so it makes sense to tax those people who's behaviors increase the need for health services so significantly. Perhaps the added cost will act as a deterrent to smoking and reduce our states future health care costs and result in longer, healthier lives for many people. Sounds like a win-win to me!
CB, Columbia - Yes, they should raise the cigarette taxes, but not by 22 cents a pack, but by 30 cents a pack.
GM, Newberry - Yes, though I'd love to see something more than 22 cents. It's time smokers begin to foot some of their own bill for the enormous costs for society caused by smoking. Perhaps as important, it will reduce the number of young people who beginning smoking each year. One of every three that do start will die from it--that's around 400,000 death a year.
SB, Columbia - Absolutely! Actually, I think it should be more than 22 cents. There is a direct correlation between increased tax and a decrease in youth smoking. This in itself should be enough reason to raise the tax. Approximately 90% of all smokers began smoking before the age of 18. For more informaton specifically regarding tobacco use and South Carolina, log onto tobaccofreekids.org. This will open your eyes.
RM, West Columbia - Medicaid must be fully funded in order to maintain healthcare for the citizens of our state. If the amount requested by DHHS is not approved, Medicaid will not only lose millions in SC funding, but also in federal matching funds as well. Many programs will cut causing many underprivileged children, the working poor and the elderly to go without healthcare. These citizens will go without needed care or seek treatment in emergency rooms, which are already overburdened. The result will be further financial losses and sky rocketing health insurance costs that will be passed onto businesses and employees. I urge our state government to step up to the plate and do what's in the best interest of the citizens of South Carolina, instead of worrying about whether or not they will be re-elected for another term. Not only will the increased revenue fund many needed Medicaid programs, it will also pay for healthcare for those who suffer the well known effects of smoking. Approximately $142 million of SC Medicaid payments are directly related to tobacco use. If that's not a good enough reason to raise the tax on cigarettes, I don't know what is.
LG, Columbia - I'm only in high school but I see the number of young smokers increasing every day. I think the taxes should be raised by a lot more than 22 cents a pack to try and cut down on some of the people smoking.
CM, Camden - I am pleased that the Senate Finance subcommittee is taking such a principled stand to help save Medicaid. Yes this is the right thing to do and I applaud all efforts. Let us hope that the Leadership of the House sees past politics and does the same thing for healthcare.
SB, Columbia - Yes! But $.22 isn't enough. Not only will this be good for Medicaid funding, but it might deter a few teenagers from taking up the habit. Clearly this tax is a win/win proposition.
WD, Columbia - The answer is NO unless SC and the FEDS impose a surtax on cigars, beer, wine, and other forms of items that incur similar medical expenses.
ER, Orangeburg - While I agree that smoking is a nasty habit, why should we, the smokers, pay for eveyone that is on Medicaid. What say we start with raising the taxes applied to soft drinks, candy and other such items. I am sure since most sensible people(by your standards) are none smokers, but they will consume unbelievalbe amounts of sugar, we can raise alot more money that way.
lh, Winnsboro - Absolutely! Smoking causes health problems, thus increasing the costs of insurance and medical bills. In effect, this is a way fos smokers to subsidize their health care programs.
CR, Columbia - YES! Absolutely! The money could desperately be used with this year's budget cuts. Especially for children's health care programs.
WW, Lugoff - Absolutely. The funds to promote positive health care instead of cancer, plus the ability to receive federal funds, is a no-brainer. 29 cents would be ok...
NK, Beaufort - Raising the cigarette tax is the only responsible way to address what would be a disaster for health care in South Carolina, and I wholeheartedly support it.
TK, Columbia,SC - I think that cigarettes should be taxed to fund health care programs. I have been smoke free for 4 years and paying more and more was also a deterrent for me.
sk, hartsville - People are always complaining about smokers(which is a nasty habit)but when i am on the highway i do not worry about getting run over by a smoking driver.We hear very little about alcohol abuse.Why not raise alcohol taxes?Could it be because too many self righteous non smokers like to take a little sip now and then?
JL, Cassatt - YES, but the amount should be doubled to 44 cents a pack.
lr, charleston - Twenty two cents/pack? Is that enough? If people can still afford to buy cigarettes now as high as they are, perhaps this will be a bit more of an incentive to stop smoking. I know how hard it is to quit. I know of people who can't quit that are in their 60's. Everytime they get a cold, which they seem to get often, they get bronchial infections and long lasting, hacking coughs. They start choking while hacking and still in the next 5 mins. light up again. What will it take to quit?
SH, West Columbia - No! What next? 22 cents tax per drink? 22 cents tax per gallon of gas for boats? Set up an increase in sales tax across the board for all the people.
BB, Saluda - Normaly I am not infavor of any kind of tax increse,but this time I am infavor of higher taxes for smokers. I am asking the state goverment to please raise the taxes on cigerettes. Smokers cost states millions of dollars every year. it's time the smokers start paying for some of cost involved with smoking. I also think that the goverment should ban smoking in all public places like resturants.
WK, Columbia - Taxes on cigarettes should be raised to enable SC to fully fund medicaid. Without this, children and elderly can lose their only health insurance or payment source for long term care. We should not balance the budget on the backs of our poorest citizens as we have done many times in the past!
AH, Columbia - yes!!! In fact, a larger tax increase would be that much more effective at reducing teen tobacco use and adding dollars to the medicaid coffer.
SR, Columbia - No. No. It is just another tax increase to provide money for an incompetent state government in a Confederacy of Dunces. I paid over $16,500. in federal and state taxes last year and am just tired of it. First it's the holy grail of Education now Health Care. My problem is not the expressed reasons they use but what they actually do with the revenue after they get it! Watch out for the latest "No property tax" moves. They are not talking about just home owners. When the corporations stop paying millions in property taxes the state will again bewail the loss of funding and search for other means of collecting revenue. Wake up.
BG, Gaston - No...just another way to grab citizen's money due to the slackness of our government and their lack on not funding properly!
KM, West Columbia - What a great way to raise income for the state. Let those who damage themselves by smoking pay for the health care of those with Medicaid. Some will say this is unfair, but the truth be know, many who are on Medicaid smoke. But wait, I was under the impression that the "TOBACCO COMPANY SETTLEMENT", of our recent past was to pay for the health care of those who were on Medicaid. But wait, that money was used to pay for new water and sewer lines. Maybe someone in the state capital should start doing what he or she was elected to do and use revenues as they were originally earmarked. But wait, THAT WOULD BE A FIRST!
MP, Irmo - SC should raise the cigarette taxes by at least 22 cents a pack. The amount should probably be twice that though. The advantages would be that it would not only provide the needed Medicaid revenues, but a higher amount has been shown to significantly deter youth smoking.
RW, Columbia - By all means raise the cigarette tax for health care programs--especially for Medicaid services. Twenty-two cents is not enough, but it is better than nothing.
SS, Camden - Absolutely. Many of our state's health care costs are related to smoking or second-hand smoke. The cigarette tax has not been increased since 1977.
LT, Columbia - YES! We should not compromise our citizens health by not funding Medicaid to the fullest extent possible, especially as it makes a tremendous difference in the amount of Federal matching dollars. The children who would be among those greatest affected are our future, and as a state we shoud do all we can to assure that they will grow up to be healthy, productive citizens.
JC, Columbia - I dont agree with using cigarettes as an escape goat, this industry is always picked on, I believe this could be raised some other ways. Cigarette industry is a big industry in this state. I don't agree that funding that was cut by the government should be picking on this industry.
KS, Leesville - Yes. I think our legislatures should be more concerned with the citizens of this state, and especially the children, instead of trying to get re-elected. I certainly will not vote for any incumbent who does not vote yes to an increase of 22 cents per pack. Even with this increase, the amount South Carolina assesses will still be far less than the amount assessed by many other states. Of course, being behind many other states is a place South Carolina is quite familiar with....
TH, Irmo - A higher amount should be considered.
el, columbia - Absolutely!!! The proposed budget cuts in the Medicaid program in SC will be detrimental to children's health in this state and once again the poor ar being asked to carry the burden. Increasing the cigarette tax will help fund Medicaid and might possible make a young person think twice before picking up the habit.
CP, West Columbia - A recurring funding source is critical to protecting these essential programs for the long term. This is a great move.
JR, Columbia - Why tax just smokers? Let's tax McDonalds and Burger King, because fat people are a burden on society, too.
DR, Orangeburg - No. It is not right to just add taxes whenever the State feels like it. They need to use the money they have and budget better. Maybe they should use the money that is being cut from the schools!! Or perhaps eliminate all of the fraud, waste, and abuse!!!
KL, Lexington, SC - Absolutely yes!!
KH, Columbia - The 22 cent increase is a step in the right direction...it probably should be more and all of the money should go toward healthcare services to try to pay for the harm that has been caused by using tobacco product.
JT, Columbia,SC - I believe the tax should be raised even higher for two reasons: 1) significant research indicates that higher cigarette prices lead to a reduction in new smokers and a reduction in teen smokers, and 2)the tax increase can offset the damage done to proposed Medicaid cuts, especially for the children. It's time our legislators make important decisions for the benefit of our citizens instead of the politically convenient decisons. This ncrease is a selective tax. If you choose to begin smoking or continue to smoke then you pay the tax. No different than if you choose to play the lottery, you pay the price.
MD, Orangeburg - Yes, cigarette taxes should be raised by at least 22 cents a pack with the money going to fund health care programs. When medicaid is cut by the state, it effects the amount of Federal dollars received. Medicaid recipients are some of our most vulnerable citizens - young children and the elderly. Cuts to health care programs only end up hurting out state more through rising health care costs, problems in education when children do not start school healthy and ready to learn.
RH, Camden - Yes, I agree with the tax increase on cigarettes, considering Dawn’s report yesterday about the percentage of smoker’s health care needs, caused by smoking cigarettes. In essence, those that choose to smoke will be paying for the healthcare they will need in the future.
JL, Cayce - We are facing an impending crisis in our state's healthcare system. The recently passed House budget has slashed eighty million dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services, including Medicaid programs. These programs provide the only access to healthcare for many of the state's working poor, elderly, and children. We are amazed that the leaders of state have failed to realize the far reaching implications of these cuts. Currently the Medicaid budget is matched three to one, raising more than two hundred and fifty million dollars additional dollars for healthcare. The loss of these dollars will mean the closing of several programs vital to providing care to thousands of adults and children. For example the Children's Health Insurance Program provides services for more than forty thousand children across the state. Programs for blind, disabled and aged will be lost as well. Medication programs will be drastically cut, as will hospice and long term care programs. These South Carolinians' will be forced to forgo outpatient treatment and seek costly emergency services, rapidly overwhelming already crowded Emergency Departments across the state. Alternatively they may go without healthcare entirely, waiting until they extremely ill before seeking assistance, and therefore putting their lives at risk. Affected children and adults will be unable to obtain money saving treatments such as vaccinations and medications, leading to costly illnesses and disease exacerbations, with subsequent disablitiy and possibly death. In the current climate of budget cuts and decreased tax revenues these cuts may seem like an unfortunate reality, but there are alternatives. On is an increase in the state's tax on tobacco products. Currently South Carolina has the third lowest tobacco tax in the nation (behind Kentucky and North Carolina), and has not seen an increase since July 1, 1977. Additionally tobacco costs the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually in additional healthcare expenditures ($768 million to be precise). Thousands of smokers and non-smokers alike suffer the burden of tobacco use. Everyday children have repeated asthma exacerbations or recurrent ear infections, and their bewildered parents cannot fathom that their three pack a day habit is the root cause. Across the state someone is having a heart attack, or stroke, developing congestive heart failure or bronchitis all due to the effects of tobacco. The South Carolina Budget and Control Board has stated that raising the cigarette tax by one penny would raise four million dollars per year. When Federal matching funds are included that one penny quickly becomes twelve million dollars. Added taxes may have the added benefit of discouraging people (particularly teens) from beginning this costly and deadly habit. Our state is at the bottom of too many lists. We are the center of the stroke belt, we lead the country in obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, and HIV. If the House budget passes, our fine state, with its proud history, will sink into mediocrity. Now is the time for our state leaders to take the high road and protect the most needy residents of our state who are unable to care for themselves. We realize that raising taxes in an election year is an unpopular move, but it is one move that MUST be taken.
RH, Columbia - That's well and good, but what about beer, wine, and liquor. Why not tax these vices also. I am sure there are plenty of health-related illnesses and expenses from alcohol too. They could make additional revenue from this also and help the senior citizens.
KC, Wagener - Yes, if it discourages one person from smoking it is worth it. I am wondering if 22 cents is enough. CDC pubished information yesterday that each pack of cigarettes sold in the US costs the nation $7.18 in medical care and lost productivity. That is money that is coming out of non-smokers pockets!
VP, Columbia - Yes, but it should higher than that. Considering that treating tobacco related diseases costs the health care system more than 760 million dollars a year (according to Tobacco Free Kids), an extra 22 cents per pack only BEGINS to put a dent in that amount of money.
IH, Columbia - This new cigarette tax won’t solve the state’s budget problems, though it might ease them a bit. Raising cigarette taxes is an easy money-grab for politicians who haven’t got the courage to raise taxes more broadly as is needed to properly fund the state’s obligations. Cigarette smoking is unpopular these days - almost on a par with drug abuse - making it very easy to raise taxes on the backs of smokers. It is much more difficult to convince the citizens at large that the services the state provides are a benefit to us all - not just to those who directly receive those services - and as such deserve increased tax support from all of us, not just smokers.
DT, West Columbia
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