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Higher Cig Tax is Good Public Policy
February 1, 2010
American Cancer Society Tobacco Policy Specialist Russ Sciandra testified at a joint NYS Senate-Assembly hearing on taxes. Sciandra focused on the benefits of a higher cigarette tax, as proposed by Gov. Paterson, and on the need to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on Indian reservations.
HIGHER CIGARETTE TAX IS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY
Statement from Russ Sciandra, tobacco policy specialist, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ, regarding joint NYS Senate and Assembly public hearing on taxes.
“Say the word ‘tax’ and people cringe. But a higher tax on cigarettes is one tax New Yorkers can feel good about. A proven public health strategy, it will raise money targeted for health care programs and reduce health care costs by increasing the numbers of smokers who decide to ditch the cancer sticks for good.
Critics of the proposed tax prey on people’s fear about higher taxes. They say a higher price doesn’t mean a large number of people will quit. The science proves otherwise. The smoking rate is down nearly 25% in New York since 2000, and higher taxes have a lot to do with that.
To maximize the effect that a higher price has on reducing smoking rates, cigarette taxes should be collected everywhere they are sold, including Indian reservations. While they complement each other, the two measures aren’t mutually exclusive. We applaud Governor Paterson's announcement that he intends to implement collection of taxes on tribal sales to non-Indians by the end of the year, and we endorse his proposal to increase the cigarette tax by one dollar a pack in June. Separately, each measure will have a significant positive impact on public health. Together, they will deliver to New York a public health jackpot - as much as a billion dollars more revenue for life-saving programs and a huge reduction in smoking among adults and, especially, kids.
The American Cancer Society urges lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly to believe the science and not the rhetoric – include Gov. Paterson’s proposed $1.00 cigarette tax increase in the 2010-2011 NYS budget.”
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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