The following letter was published in the Lincoln Journal Star on February 18, 2018
I recently talked with Sen. Adam Morfeld at a Day at the Capitol in Lincoln hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association and American Lung Association.
These groups are working on several initiatives this year to reduce the burden of tobacco use in Nebraska. The initiative that touches my heart is the work to raise the tobacco tax in Nebraska by a $1.50 per pack of cigarettes and an equivalent amount for other tobacco products.
I lost my husband, his brother and sister to lung cancer, all from prolonged cigarette smoking. Although my husband stopped smoking when we met, the damage was done; he died very quickly from oat cell carcinoma.
We need to take any proven steps we can to prevent 38,000 kids living in Nebraska today from ultimately premature deaths related to smoking.
I ask all our senators to pass the tobacco tax increase legislation. Thank you to Sen. Morfeld for already making this commitment.
Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network