How many reasons do we need to increase the tobacco tax?

 

There are so many reasons to increase the tobacco tax in Idaho. Higher prices discourage kids from starting to smoke, while also encouraging adults to quit.

Consider also that despite decreased smoking rates, every state that has passed a tobacco tax increase has seen higher revenue than they would have without the increase.

With less people smoking, health care costs go down at the same time that state revenues go up. So, not only are taxpayers paying less for tobacco-related health care costs, they are collecting more revenue, potentially saving jobs and critical services.

Consider, for a minute, the burden that tobacco use puts on our state:

1. Tobacco use costs the Medicaid program in Idaho $83 million a year;

2. Tobacco use costs Idaho $319 million a year in health care related costs; and

3. Idaho residents' annual state and federal tax burden from smoking caused government expenditures is $539 per every tax-paying household.

A tobacco tax is a WIN for Idaho in every way. Improving our physical and fiscal fitness. Show your support for the tax by signing the petition here.