Locals React To Proposed Tax Hike On Tobacco
Tax hikes on tobacco products was a major topic of discussion in Boise on Tuesday.
A coalition of 25 groups across Idaho has been formed and is inundating the state legislature with nearly 20,000 postcards, urging lawmakers to consider raising taxes by $1.25.
They are signed by Idahoans who agree increasing the tobacco tax is an overall winning solution for the state.
Health advocates agree smoking is not the best for your health and now many of them want to use higher taxes as a deterrent, particularly for youth.
Gary Rillema with the Eastern Idaho Public Health Department said these products pose great harm to their health.
“It’s a very addictive product. If we can keep some of the youth and some of the teens from starting to use tobacco, and if this tax increase helps that to happen, then it’s a good thing,” he said. “Tobacco has its uses, but for the general American public excessive use of tobacco has some real health risks.”
Rillema pointed out lung cancer and cardiovascular disease as examples of this. He said the risks add up to 25 different issues.
So what do tobacco users have to say about the possibility of paying more for the products they crave?
“I think it’s outrageous. I think if they’re going to raise taxes they should raise taxes on alcohol and not cigarettes,” said smoker Rochelle Haley.
“I say that if they did that, I would have to quit smoking. It’s too expensive. I mean that’s outrageous,” said smoker Chris Bird.
Bird said he agrees it would be a great way to keep tobacco out of the hands of youth.
“I could see that working really well. It would be good to make it $10 a pack for teenagers,” said Bird.
The groups supporting the hike include the American Cancer Society and the Idaho State Dental Association.
Idaho’s current tax rate on tobacco products falls way below the national of average of a $1.45. The state pays less than 41 other states. No word yet on whether the tax will affect the prices of cigarettes on the Sho-Ban reservation.
