The following letter was published in the Omaha World Herald on January 21, 2018.
I support increasing the tobacco tax in Nebraska by a significant amount. I am a local health care provider in North Platte, Nebraska, and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. I see firsthand what many don’t understand: that using tobacco can have a lifelong impact on health, happiness and finances. Tobacco is a product that, when used as directed, leads to disease, addiction and death. I have seen the regret that many of my patients who smoke have about the impact it’s had on their lives.
Some can’t breathe. Some are diagnosed with cancer. Some face heart attacks, strokes and other disabling conditions at the hands of their addiction.
I ask my lawmakers to have the courage to move this bill out of committee and support it all the way to passage. Let’s give more Nebraskans an opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.