News
WE DID IT!!!!
Hi everyone,
I'm very happy to tell you that the Legislature has passed a state budget for 2010-2011 and the Governor will allow it to become law without her signature on September 5.
This budget, while far from perfect, does raise the cigarette tax by $1 from $2 to $3 effective October 1. The $3 tax gives Connecticut the 2nd highest tax in the country behind Rhode Island. While we were unsuccessful in securing this tax revenue for cessation programs, the tax itself will result in reduced smoking rates for all Connecticut smokers but especially youth smokers as the chart below shows:
Projected Benefits from Increasing the State Cigarette Tax Rate by $1.00 Per Pack
|
Additional state cigarette tax revenues in first year |
$103 million |
|
Percent decrease in youth smoking |
11.7% |
|
Kids in Connecticut kept from becoming addicted adult smokers |
25,300 |
|
Current adult smokers in the state who would quit |
10,900 |
|
Smoking-affected births avoided over next five years |
1,650 |
|
Connecticut residents saved from premature smoking-caused death |
10,900 |
|
5-year health savings from fewer smoking-affected pregnancies & births |
$2.8 million |
|
5-year health savings from fewer smoking-caused heart attacks & strokes |
$4.3 million |
|
Long-term health savings in state from adult & youth smoking declines |
$546.3 million |
THAT is a win any way you look at it.
I'm also pleased to tell you that we managed to avert any additional funding loss to the Connecticut Cancer Plan!
None of this would have been possible had it not been for your help. I want to personally thank each and every one of you for all of your efforts in making sure our voices were heard in Hartford!
2010 will bring new challenges and new opportunities to help shape the public policy agenda at the Statehouse. I look forward to working with you and achieving greater success as we move forward!
THANK YOU!
Bryte Johnson
State Director of Government Relations and Advocacy
American Cancer Society New England Division