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The following letter has been sent to all PA House and Senate leaders, and most Reps and Senators.
December 5, 2015
The Honorable Dave Reed
Pennsylvania House Leader
Harrisburg, PA 17120
RE: PA Budget, please support cigarette tax hike, but no tax for low risk smokefree alternatives
Dear Representative Reed:
By increasing cigarette taxes, and by NOT taxing far less harmful vapor (i.e. e-cigarette) or smokeless tobacco products, PA’s budget can improve public health and fiscal accountability.
More than 99% of tobacco attributable morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs are caused by cigarette smoking. In sharp contrast, vapor and smokeless tobacco products are 99% less harmful than cigarettes, have helped several million smokers quit, and have saved taxpayers money.
A recent study found $170 Billion was spent treating cigarette diseases in the US in 2010, with >70% of those costs paid by taxpayers. At 4% annual inflation, US cigarette healthcare costs will reach $200 Billion in 2015, or $15/pack, of which taxpayers will pay about $11/pack. Yet, combined revenue from federal and PA cigarette taxes, and PA’s settlement is $3.50/pack.
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(14)00616-3/abstract
Another study found PA Medicaid expenditures for treating cigarette diseases were $2.24 Billion in 2012, while PA received $1.45 Billion in cigarette tax and settlement revenue. The study also found that a whopping 70% of PA’s 2.44 million Medicaid enrollees are cigarette smokers.
E-Cigarettes Poised to Save Medicaid Billions
While increasing cigarette taxes is wise, taxing low risk smokefree alternatives unfairly punishes people for quitting smoking, discourages smokers from quitting, deceives the public to believe they are just as harmful as cigarettes, and would decimate several hundred vape shops in PA that help smokers quit (as PA vapers would buy untaxed products online from out-of-state).
As you may be aware, Governor Wolf proposed a punitive 40% excise tax on low risk vapor and smokeless tobacco products in his budget due to lobbying by groups (i.e. ACS, AHA, ALA) that have received several hundred million dollars from Big Pharma to hawk and protect nicotine gums, patches, lozenges from market competition by vapor and smokeless tobacco products.
Once again, please support a cigarette tax hike, and oppose taxing smokefree alternatives.
Sincerely,
Bill Godshall
Executive Director
Smokefree Pennsylvania
1926 Monongahela Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
412-351-5880
BillGodshall@verizon.net
December 5, 2015
The Honorable Dave Reed
Pennsylvania House Leader
Harrisburg, PA 17120
RE: PA Budget, please support cigarette tax hike, but no tax for low risk smokefree alternatives
Dear Representative Reed:
By increasing cigarette taxes, and by NOT taxing far less harmful vapor (i.e. e-cigarette) or smokeless tobacco products, PA’s budget can improve public health and fiscal accountability.
More than 99% of tobacco attributable morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs are caused by cigarette smoking. In sharp contrast, vapor and smokeless tobacco products are 99% less harmful than cigarettes, have helped several million smokers quit, and have saved taxpayers money.
A recent study found $170 Billion was spent treating cigarette diseases in the US in 2010, with >70% of those costs paid by taxpayers. At 4% annual inflation, US cigarette healthcare costs will reach $200 Billion in 2015, or $15/pack, of which taxpayers will pay about $11/pack. Yet, combined revenue from federal and PA cigarette taxes, and PA’s settlement is $3.50/pack.
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(14)00616-3/abstract
Another study found PA Medicaid expenditures for treating cigarette diseases were $2.24 Billion in 2012, while PA received $1.45 Billion in cigarette tax and settlement revenue. The study also found that a whopping 70% of PA’s 2.44 million Medicaid enrollees are cigarette smokers.
E-Cigarettes Poised to Save Medicaid Billions
While increasing cigarette taxes is wise, taxing low risk smokefree alternatives unfairly punishes people for quitting smoking, discourages smokers from quitting, deceives the public to believe they are just as harmful as cigarettes, and would decimate several hundred vape shops in PA that help smokers quit (as PA vapers would buy untaxed products online from out-of-state).
As you may be aware, Governor Wolf proposed a punitive 40% excise tax on low risk vapor and smokeless tobacco products in his budget due to lobbying by groups (i.e. ACS, AHA, ALA) that have received several hundred million dollars from Big Pharma to hawk and protect nicotine gums, patches, lozenges from market competition by vapor and smokeless tobacco products.
Once again, please support a cigarette tax hike, and oppose taxing smokefree alternatives.
Sincerely,
Bill Godshall
Executive Director
Smokefree Pennsylvania
1926 Monongahela Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
412-351-5880
BillGodshall@verizon.net
(not really funny, actually).
