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Cigarette Tax Increase Legislation
The 2004 legislative season is well under way, and MSR members have already had a huge impact on the decisions made by their elected officials. To date, NO states have adopted new cigarette tax increases, though proposals are still pending in the following states [amounts are per 20-pack]: Alabama (up to 40¢), Colorado (64¢ ballot initiative), Connecticut (54¢), Hawaii (20¢), Iowa (40¢), Kansas (14¢), Kentucky (up to 75¢), Maryland (50¢), Michigan (75¢), Minnesota (up to $1), Mississippi (50¢), Missouri (55¢), Montana ($1 ballot initiative), New Jersey (45¢), Ohio (19¢), Oklahoma (77¢ ballot initiative), Rhode Island (75¢), Tennessee (10¢) and Virginia (up to 97.5¢). If the situation in these states turns for the worse, MySmokersRights will notify our membership and encourage you to take action. So, keep an eye out for any MSR updates.
Kudos to West Virginia MSR members who contacted their legislators by the hundreds and convinced the legislature to reject Governor Wise's 20¢-per-pack cigarette tax increase. The increase would have meant the second consecutive year of tax hikes for West Virginia smokers. But legislators took a firm stand against the proposal when neither the House nor the Senate allowed the smoker tax bills to come up for debate during the legislative session. With the successful defeat of smoker tax increases in the 2004 session, West Virginia MSR members proved their combined voice could make the difference. Congratulations!
The Utah legislature failed to pass a proposed 4¢-per-pack tax increase before the March 3rd adjournment. Though the amount of the proposed increase was minimal when compared to other states, several Utah MSR members sent e-mails to their legislators making it clear that no cigarette tax increase, regardless of the amount, would go unchallenged. That's the spirit!
Arkansas did not hold a regular legislative session this year, but did consider raising cigarette taxes 10¢ per pack during a special session that began on 12/8/03. The tax increase bill died when it was not brought up for consideration before a legislative calendar deadline.
On February 3, 2004, Oregon voters defeated Ballot Measure 30, thereby repealing a 10¢-per-pack cigarette excise tax increase passed in 2003. The rollback, from $1.28 to $1.18 per pack, went into effect immediately. However, the legislature may consider reinstating the 10¢ tax during a special budget session scheduled to begin in June.
Other state legislatures that have adjourned without cigarette tax increases or new smoking restrictions include Indiana, New Mexico, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Tax Increase Repeat Offenders
For the second year in a row, legislators in Hawaii are considering a 20¢-per-pack tax increase on top of the 10¢ increase scheduled to take effect on July 1. And as unbelievable as it may sound, Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland and New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey are pushing for a third consecutive year of cigarette tax increases in the amounts of 54¢ and 45¢ per pack, respectively. What's more shocking is Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri's proposal to raise smoker taxes for a FOURTH successive year, this time by a whopping 75¢ per pack. MSR members have been active in their fight against these outrageous tax increases. In fact, Governor Rowland of Connecticut has done something of an about-face, recently telling a group of elected officials and business representatives that he hopes to drop his cigarette tax increase plan. Smokers in all four states need to keep up the good work.
Smoking Ban Legislation
Earlier this month, the Idaho Legislature passed a new statewide smoking ban bill that forbids smoking in all restaurants. The legislation exempts bars and bowling allies. The bill has been sent to Governor Dirk Kempthorne's desk for his signature. If the governor approves the bill, the smoking ban will take effect on July 1, 2004.
Legislators in Minnesota are considering a statewide smoking ban in all enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars. The Senate version of the bill has already received committee approval and awaits a floor vote. To date, no hearings have been scheduled in the House to discuss their version of the bill.
Other states still considering smoking bans include Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee. As with cigarette tax increases, if the situation in any of these states becomes more critical, MySmokersRights will notify our membership and encourage you to take action.
No More Tobacco Coupons?
A new state law directive has taken effect in Massachusetts that forbids retailers from accepting tobacco manufacturers' money-saving coupons if those coupons discount cigarette prices below a Massachusetts pricing minimum. Since most retailers already sell their tobacco products at or near the predetermined price, smokers won't be able to use cigarette coupons for their favorite RJRT, or any other, brand. Tobacco coupons were the only relief Massachusetts' smokers had from ridiculously high tobacco taxes, and now they, too, have been taken away. Massachusetts MSR members who feel strongly about the impact of this directive have been encouraged to use their MSR personal page of legislative contacts to e-mail state leaders to let them know how they feel.
Spread the Word about MySmokersRights
MySmokersRights promises to continue to keep you informed of issues affecting adult smokers. If you have friends or family members concerned about smokers' rights, tell them about MySmokersRights.com and encourage them to visit and join. The more our membership grows, the better our chances of defeating unfair smoking laws and taxes across the nation. So, contact your adult friends and family who smoke, wherever they may be, and tell them about the successes of MySmokersRights. Together we are making a difference.
As always, remember to use your personal Web page of legislators provided to you when you signed up with MySmokersRights to contact any or all of your legislators on any issue at any time.
Since its launch in late 2002, MySmokersRights.com has signed up over 70,000 members! And members' responses to our e-mail alerts confirm that MySmokersRights is needed and wanted, so that smokers can speak out on issues that are important to them.
In 2003, most states faced severe budget shortages. Unfortunately for smokers, some legislators turned to increased cigarette taxes to fund their state's budget shortfalls. Despite the efforts of these state legislators intent on taking more of smokers' money and the usual push by anti-smoking groups, smokers did quite well across the country this year. One hundred ninety-one smoker tax bills were introduced in 37 states in 2003 (in some states, multiple bills were introduced). But in spite of the huge number of cigarette tax bills proposed, only 15 states passed increases in the smoker tax. Quite an accomplishment despite overwhelming odds!
Last year, smokers in California, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire and North Dakota were instrumental in helping to defeat cigarette tax increases of up to $1.50 per pack. MySmokersRights members responded multiple times and contacted their legislators, protesting smoker tax increases. Congratulations to these hard-working smokers who never stopped in their efforts to protect their rights!
Despite smokers' best efforts (and smokers in these states did work very hard), the huge financial crises facing many states led legislators to take the "easy" way, and these 15 states increased taxes on their citizens who smoke:
State increase per pack:
Arkansas 25¢
Connecticut 40¢
Delaware 31¢
Georgia 25¢
Idaho 29¢
Montana 52¢
Nebraska 30¢
Nevada 45¢
New Jersey 55¢
New Mexico 70¢
Pennsylvania 35¢
Rhode Island 39¢
South Dakota 20¢
West Virginia 38¢
Wyoming 48¢
Even in the face of these increases, smokers made a difference. E-mails sent by MySmokersRights members helped reduce the amount of tax passed in Georgia (from 48¢ to 25¢), Idaho (from 92¢ to 29¢), Montana (from $1.50 to 52¢), Nevada (from 70¢ to 45¢) and Pennsylvania (from $1.00 to 35¢).
So, what does 2004 have in store for smokers? You can be assured that budget deficits will not go away, and many states will attempt to take what they think is the easy way out - targeting the smoking minority to foot the bill. At this point, we think the biggest threats to smoker incomes are from the following states:
Alaska (increase of up to 75¢ per pack or $7.50 per carton)
Colorado (increase of up to 80¢ per pack or $8.00 per carton)
Hawaii (increase of up to 50¢ per pack or $5.00 per carton)
Illinois (increase of up to 30¢ per pack or $3.00 per carton)
Kentucky (increase of up to 45¢ per pack or $4.50 per carton)
Louisiana (increase of up to 14¢ per pack or $1.40 per carton)
Michigan (increase of up to 50¢ per pack or $5.00 per carton)
North Carolina (increase of up to 25¢ per pack or $2.50 per carton)
Ohio (increase of up to 19¢ per pack or $1.90 per carton)
Oklahoma (increase of up to 50¢ per pack or $5.00 per carton)
Rhode Island (increase of up to 29¢ per pack or $2.90 per carton)
South Carolina (increase of up to 30¢ per pack or $3.00 per carton)
Texas (increase of up to $1.00 per pack or $10.00 per carton)
Virginia (increase of up to 72.5¢ per pack or $7.25 per carton)
Although additional states may attempt smoker tax increases as 2004 progresses, MySmokersRights' commitment to you will remain. When legislators need to hear from smokers on ANY cigarette tax increase, we will let you know. We will continue to provide you a convenient way to contact your elected officials to let them know how unfair it is to single out a minority of citizens who smoke to pay for issues and problems that affect everyone.
In addition, in 2004, Idaho, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Wyoming are expected to consider bills that will seriously restrict or outright ban smoking in most public places -- restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, pool halls and workplaces. Many cities and counties are expected to consider some form of smoking restrictions as well. Again, we will keep you informed when the time is right to contact your political representatives at state or local levels.
At the federal level in 2003, thousands of smokers e-mailed their U.S. Senators in opposition to a proposed $13 billion tax increase on smokers to pay for a buyout of tobacco quota holders and tobacco farmers. The proposed legislation, which would have included FDA regulation of cigarettes, did not pass. This effort is likely to be revived in 2004, and you can be assured that we will inform you if that happens.
You can see from these results that smokers CAN and DO make a difference IF they take action to protect their rights. We hope you will continue to do so in 2004.
Remember to use your personal Web page of legislators provided to you when you signed up with MySmokersRights to contact any or all of your legislators on any issue at any time.
Adult smokers everywhere appreciate your work to protect smokers' rights.
Thank you for using MySmokersRights to protect the rights of adult smokers.
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