Excise Taxes

Resources

Tobacco tax fact sheets available
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has recently made updated fact sheets available on their website. Available fact sheets include a map showing state cigarette tax rates, cigarette tax increases by state per year, pregnancy related benefits and cost savings from raising cigarette taxes, and much more. To see available fact sheets click here. Additionally, state specific fact sheets are available by request through contacting Ann Boonn. They can inform you of benefits from a cigarette tax increase in your state, projected Medicaid program savings in your state from an X-cent cigarette tax increase, and many others. They are personalized for your state and can be done for any specific requested tax increase amounts. Please contact Ann Boonn for more information at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 1400 I Street NW, Suite 1200 in Washington, DC  20005. She can be reached by phone (202-296-5469), fax (202-296-5427), or email (aboonn@tobaccofreekids.org) as well.

Analysis of pre-election field polls regarding Proposition 86, the tax on cigarettes initiative
The 27 page report has plenty of goodies for those trying to figure out why Proposition 86 lost. It was prepared for the California HealthCare Foundation by Mark Di Camillo, director of the California Field Poll. The California HealthCare Foundation had the Field Poll's final two summaries before the election--late September and October-- supplemented by adding a series of questions exploring voter attitudes toward the major program areas slated for revenue increases under Prop. 86 and their views about children’s health insurance.  Click here to read the article and access the report.

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State

Indiana

Indiana cigarette tax increase of 54.5 cents advances
Indiana state lawmakers have wrapped the 54.5 cent per pack cigarette tax increase in a House Bill. The proposed increase would bring Indiana’s per pack tobacco tax to $1.10. Revenue from the $223 million a year would go to provide health care coverage for more Indian residents. Click here to read more.

Maryland

Maryland lawmakers propose cigarette tax increase to fund health care programs
A proposed bill in the Maryland House is calling for a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase. The increase would double the state’s current tax of $1 per pack. The expected $212 million revenue would be used to expand the number of Maryland adults covered by Medicaid. The proposal was met with little enthusiasm from House democrats. In total, the Medicaid overhaul project has an estimated cost of $630 million a year. Click here to read more.

Mississippi

Mississippi passes bill to raise cigarette taxes
The Mississippi House has voted to increase the cigarette tax to $1.00 per pack and slash the sales tax on groceries. Currently, the state has one of the highest national grocery sales tax rates at 7 percent and lowest cigarette tax rates at 18 cents per pack. The bill is expected to be met with opposition in the Senate. Additionally, Governor Haley Barbour has said he will veto any proposal that would raise taxes. Click here for the full story.

Oregon

Oregon cigarette tax clears key hurtle
The House Committee on Health Care gave approval to a measure to increase Oregon’s cigarette tax by 84 cents per pack, bringing the state tax rate to $2.02 per pack. The revenue will be used to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs as well as to provide health insurance coverage for children. Click here to read more.

South Dakota; Texas

Cigarette tax increases take effect in South Dakota and Texas
January 1st marked the enactment of a $1.00 per pack cigarette tax increase in both South Dakota and Texas. South Dakota’s increase was passed by voters in the November 2006 election, raising the tax to $1.53 per pack, while Texas’s tax increase to $1.41 per pack was passed by the legislature earlier in 2006. Click here to read more.

West Virginia

Anti-smoking forces attack on several legislative fronts
Although his recent study of West Virginia’s tax system recommended tobacco-related hikes, Governor Joe Manchin has decided not to include any in his legislative agenda. Anti smoking forces are looking to the Senate to support a measure that would increase the state’s cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack. Click here to read more.

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