ACS CAN Reacts to Governor's Budget

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Amber Hillman

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Phone: 508-450-8690

E-mail: [email protected]

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Reacts to Governor’s Budget

CONCORD – February 12, 2015 – This statement can be attributed to Mike Rollo, director of government relations in New Hampshire for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

“ACS CAN applauds Governor Hassan for her commitment to improve public health and increase revenue for New Hampshire through an increase in the state’s tobacco tax, as well as her proposal to include premium cigars and electronic cigarettes under this tax umbrella.  We encourage the governor to ensure the tax rate of electronic cigarettes and premium cigars is in parity with the tax rate for cigarettes and other tobacco products. Both of these proposals would reduce tobacco use and, therefore, save thousands of lives in New Hampshire from tobacco-related diseases.

“In order to significantly reduce tobacco use, which is responsible for one-third of all cancer deaths, ACS CAN encourages the governor to also take this opportunity to fully fund the state Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. Current funding levels for this proven program are at less than one percent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended amount and an increase in these levels will result in long term healthcare cost savings for New Hampshire and fewer lives lost.”

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.  ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

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