Coalition Pushes for $1 Hike in Ohio Cigarette Tax

However, another group, including the Ohio Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, is gearing up to fight any increase.

April 05, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A coalition of health advocates want Ohio to raise its cigarette tax by a dollar to $2.25 per pack, the News-Herald reports. They suggest the money would plug the state budget gaps.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and Robert Wood Foundation say the hike would generate $299.7 million each year for the state.

"Every 10 percent increase in cigarette prices, reduces youth smoking rates by about 6.5 percent, adult smoking rates by 2 percent and total cigarette consumption by 4 percent," wrote the coalition in a report.

But another group that includes the Ohio Association of Commercial Stores, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Ohio Grocers Association, Ohio Petroleum Association and Ohio Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association strongly disagrees with tax hike proposals.

Any increase in the cigarette tax would bring in "minimal" revenue and is likely to "reduce" state revenues, wrote supermarket owner Tom Jackson, a member of the group and president/CEO of the grocer??s association. "Any economist will tell you that it is impossible for a buck increase on a pack of cigarettes to generate $299 million in Ohio. ?? Raising the cigarette tax is a bad idea because it does not produce the desired results, it hurts our poorest population and it puts Ohio at a disadvantage."

Gov. Ted Strickland has indicated his opposition to an increase in the cigarette tax. Ohio last increased its cigarette tax in 2005.

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