Floridians like idea of hiking cigarette tax by $1
(AP Photo/Phil Coale)
Gov. Charlie Crist speaks to editors and reporters at the Associated Press annual legislative meeting, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Associated Press Writer
Published: January 22, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Miamian Robert Gonzalez says a $1 tax hike on a pack of cigarettes might just be enough to make him quit smoking after 20 years.
Gonzalez had pulled into a BP service station Thursday when asked about a new poll showing more than 7 of 10 Florida voters support a $1 boost in the cigarette tax to help the state deal with a growing budget deficit.
“Seriously, that would be a great incentive,“ the 48-year-old nursery worker said. “I may have said that a lot before, but I think with how things are tight these days, it would be a great reason to finally stop.“
Gonzalez’ wife, Maria, chuckled after hearing her husband’s comment about quitting, adding that he always threatened to stop when the prices go up.
But Gonzalez insisted that this time he’s serious.
“Things are tight these days,“ he said. “It would be a great reason to finally stop.“
Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said after an appearance at Thursday’s annual legislative editors meeting hosted by The Associated Press that increasing the cigarette tax is a good idea.
“I’m comfortable that a cigarette tax is going to be part of the equation that the Senate will bring,“ Atwater said about the ongoing scramble to find a way to balance the budget as required by law.
“We’re so far below the national average (cigarette taxes) that I think we have a responsibilty to the people of Florida to look at that rate going up,“ Atwater said. “I don’t know where the right number is.“
About 20 percent of adults smoke in Florida, where the state taxes cigarettes at the rate of 33.9 cents a pack, well below the national average of $1.19.
The American Lung Association estimates a dollar hike in the cigarette tax would raise an extra $700 million a year and deter many from starting the habit.
The American Lung Association’s Brenda Olsen said tobacco-related illnesses cost Florida’s Medicaid program more than $1 billion a year.
Whatever lawmakers might settle on for an increase, it won’t stop Miami travel agent Grisel Suarez from buying her Benson & Hedges Menthol Lights.
“I’m still going to smoke my cigarettes no matter how much they are or will be, because I like to smoke,“ Suarez said.
Gov. Charlie Crist remains cool to the idea of raising any tax, counting instead on help from a federal stimulus program being pushed by President Barack Obama.
“I’m not a big fan of any revenue increases, especially at a time like this,“ Crist said Thursday when asked about the poll. “I think what we’ll do is see what the House and Senate do with that issue.“
In a survey of 1,370 Florida voters between Jan. 14-19, 71 percent said they favored raising the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack, the Quinnipiac (Conn.) University Polling Institute reported. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
Not surprisingly, smokers opposed paying more by nearly 2-to-1, although half said they’d either quit or cut down if such an increase were approved.
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Associated Press writer Damian Grass in Miami contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
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Reader Reactions
I personally can’t stand cigarettes.But suppose we raise the tax on said cigarettes.People will quit buying them.Then what are we going to do for revenue.If you tax something out of business you need to have a way to make up the revenue that you lose.If you really want to raise taxes here is an idea tax the Florida lottery.
If you gonna put a tax on my cigarettes, put one on foods that make people obese and cost fl. to treat their health problems. In other words, i dont think that JUST the smokers should get extra taxes to help in the bailout. I am gonna smoke till i get dead, and i have some EXPENSIVE insurance. I do NOT need the goobahmint to pay any of my medical expenses.
Yes, anyone in their right minds will know that putting a reasonable tax on such a bad habit as cigarette smoking is a way to amelioriate its bad effects on our society. In fact the cost per pack should be commensurate with the long term health care payout costs, plus administrative costs and then some extra if the market will bear it, just to help people avoid their own stupidity. Duh.
This post was written by a long ago reformed smoker.
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