On Monday, February 23rd, the tobacco tax bill which was recommended by an interim committee will be introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates. The bill will call for a 65 cent per pack increase in the excise tax on cigarettes and a raise from 7 percent of the wholesale price to 14 percent for all other tobacco products.
The proposed legislation will be referred to the Health and Human Resources Committee and then to Finance.
The tax legislation is part of a package of bills recommended by Select Committee D after a year-long study of health care in West Virginia. Passage of the tax is essential to funding other proposed pieces of this package.
More importantly, raising the tobacco excise tax in West Virginia will reduce the number of young people who begin using tobacco products and will serve as a huge incentive for current tobacco users to quit. Research shows an overall 4 percent reduction in tobacco use with every ten percent increase in the price of the product.
Supporters of this bill should contact House members on Monday by telephone urging their support of the tobacco tax legislation (HB2746). You can identify your members and their Capitol phone number by entering your zip code here. Legislators need to hear there is a large amount of grassroots support to provide this important legislation the momentum it will need to be considered.
Please make your phone call today - even if you do not personally reach your legislators leave them a message requesting that they support the tobacco tax bill (HB2746).
Tags: 2009 Session, Action Alert, tobacco tax, West Virginia Legislature
February 21st, 2009 at 5:59 am
Increasing the unit cost of tobacco products is one of the recommended and most effective “Best Pratices” utilized in tobacco control efforts!!
February 21st, 2009 at 5:34 pm
As Chair of the Upshur County Tobacco Prevention Coalition
I sent this to my members early today. I only have their emails at work so can’t get members till Monday later in the day. I wonder why this info hits the fan late on friday????
February 21st, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Tim - Actually this is advance warning of a bill introduction coming on Monday. Typically, we wouldn’t have been able to get the word out early but the wonders of the blog / social networking allow us to get an alert like this ahead of time. Contacting your membership later on Monday is no problem - as long as they make their calls as soon as possible. Committee action on this bill will not come for at least a few days.
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 am
This is a “two-fer”. Not only will the increased cost of tobacco result in lowered use by both youth and adults, but half of the new revenue from the tobacco tax will be dedicated to health promotion issues.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:58 am
I encourage everyone to take the time to make the calls within the limitations of their jobs. If, for example, as a state employee, you are not permitted to make these types of calls from work, please do so from your cell phone while you are off campus for lunch, identifying yourself as a voting constituent. The more people who call, the greater the momentum will be,creating an imperative from those who vote.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Another tobacco tax bill introduced today…
Still looking for a bill that increases much needed funding for prevention!