The Senate Health and Welfare Committee is recommending Kentucky’s cigarette tax increase by at least one dollar. That action came following a hearing on the proposal brought by health and business advocates.
Cancer center directors from both the University of Kentucky and university of Louisville and a representative from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce made their case for raising the cigarette tax. In addition to individual health benefits, lowering workforce absences are also cited by proponents.
There were questions in committee. Campbellsville Senator Max Wise asked about taxing other health impacting products. “Is it the war on Twinkies and the king dongs? Where do we go on raising taxes on whatever else that it might be?” asked Wise.
Ashli Watts with the Chamber of Commerce says smoking affects non-smokers unlike individual food choices. “You choose to smoke but when you smoke everyone else in that room also inhales that smoke as well, when you drink a soda the person next to you is not going to be effected,” said Watts.
Leitchfield Senator Stephen Meredith has filed legislation which directs much of the additional tax money to Medicaid reimbursements. In the end, the committee moved to recommend the one dollar hike in the cigarette tax and not approve a bill.
