State Mulls Cigarette Tax

Wyoming lawmakers are to meet this week to review a proposal to raise tobacco taxes, including a one-dollar-per-pack hike for cigarettes. Jason Mincer with the A-C-S Cancer Action Network says it’s not just the tax revenue that would be raised, the sticker shock at the counter can be a big motivation for people to quit smoking.
“That would prevent about 2,100 kids from starting to smoke in Wyoming. It’s going to save us over the long run almost $100 million in health-care costs. And it would save about 1,300 lives. A $1 increase in tobacco taxes would certainly benefit the State of Wyoming, with $22 million going to the General Fund and about $4 million to cities, towns and counties.”
House Bill 218, sponsored by Representative Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne), is expected to get a hearing this week in the House Revenue Committee.

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