Clear the Air

SB 362 Increasing the Tobacco Tax by $1 per pack of cigarettes is pending in Senate Finance Committee. Action is needed on Monday to ensure its passage this session!

The bill will help keep thousands of West Virginians from becoming smokers and make our state much healthier. The bill will save lives. It will also generate needed funds for public health priorities for the state.

The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free West Virginia is urging voters to call members of the Senate Finance Committee and ask them to pass SB 362.

There is the possibility that the provisions of SB 362 will be amended into SB 566 which deals with OPEB. The Coaltion for Tobacco-Free West Virginia is urging passage of the tobacco tax on its own merits as an important public health bill and feels it should not be drawn into a debate on employee and retiree benefits.

Please call the members of Senate Finance Committee and urge passage of SB-362 as it is currently written. Contact numbers for these members can be found here by clicking the members name.

The tobacco tax increase bills (HB-2973 & HB-362) are both currently pending in the House and Senate Finance Committees. In order to be considered for passage this year one of these bills needs to proceed from one of these committees by this Friday!

The American Heart Association has made it easy for you to email all of your legislators at one time and urge them to get behind this important legislation.

Click HERE to send your messages RIGHT NOW!

Legislation to increase West Virginia’s excise tax on tobacco products (SB-362) will be considered by the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee at 1pm today.

This legislation calls for increasing West Virginia’s tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack to $1.55 and also increase the tax on other tobacco products (cigars, snuff, snus, etc.) to 50 percent of the wholesale price of the product.

As introduced, these bills also call for dedicating $27 million to tobacco prevention and education programs as recommended for West Virginia by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids , studies and experience in state after state show that higher cigarette taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking among both youth and adults. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.

Passage of the proposed increase in West Virginia would result in 19,100 young people being saved from becoming lifetime smokers, 13,100 current adult tobacco users would quit and 9,500 premature dealth from tobacco-related illnesses would be prevented.

Legislators need to hear from their constituents that they should support this legislation this year!

The tobacco tax legislation will be voted on TODAY by Health and Human Resources Committee members and it is important that you contact Senate  NOW and ask that they support SB-362.

Contact information for Senate HHR Committee members is as follows:

Senator Ron Stollings - Chair - (304) 357-7939 - ron.stollings@frontier.com

Senator Dan Foster - Vice-Chair - (304) 357-7866 - daniel.foster@camc.org

Senator Truman Chafin - (304) 357-7808 - truman.chafin@wvsenate.gov

Senator Evan Jenkins - (304) 357-7956 - evan.jenkins@wvsenate.gov

Senator William Laird - (304) 357-7849 - william.laird@wvsenate.gov

Senator Ronald Miller - (304) 357-7959 - ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov

Senator Corey Palumbo - (304) 357-7880 - corey.palumbo@wvsenate.gov

Senator Roman Prezioso - (304) 357-7961 - roman.prezioso@wvsenate.gov

Senator Gregory Tucker - (304) 357-7906 - greg.tucker@wvsenate.gov

Senator Mark Wills - (304) 357-7843 - mark.wills@wvsenate.gov

Senator Jack Yost - (304) 357-7984 - jack.yost@wvsenate.gov

Senator Donna Boley - (304) 357-7905 - donnaboley@suddenlink.net

Senator Mike Hall - (304) 357-7901 - delegate200@hotmail.com

Make your voice heard and call or email these legislators TODAY and urge their support of SB-362!

A public hearing on HB-2973, which would increase West Virginia’s tobacco tax, has been schedule for Wednesday, February 16th at 9:00 a.m.

The public hearing will offer tobacco control advocates the opportunity to express their support of a tobacco tax increase with a dedication of a portion of the revenue to tobacco control efforts in the state. The hearing will be held in the House Chamber.

The House Health and Human Resources Committee will take up HB2973 which would increase West Virginia’s tobacco tax.

This legislation calls for increasing West Virginia’s tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack to $1.55 and also increase the tax on other tobacco products (cigars, snuff, snus, etc.) to 50 percent of the wholesale price of the product.

As introduced, these bills also call for dedicating $27 million to tobacco prevention and education programs as recommended for West Virginia by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids , studies and experience in state after state show that higher cigarette taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking among both youth and adults. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.

Passage of the proposed increase in West Virginia would result in 19,100 young people being saved from becoming lifetime smokers, 13,100 current adult tobacco users would quit and 9,500 premature dealth from tobacco-related illnesses would be prevented.

Legislators on this committee need to hear from their constituents before the 4p.m. meeting on Wednesday, February 9th they should support this legislation!

Contact information for committee members is as follows:

Delegate Don Perdue - Chair - (304) 340-3269 - don.perdue@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Barbara Hatfield - Vice-chair - (304) 340-3140 -  bobbie.hatfield@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Larry Border - (304) 340-3136 -  larry.border@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Jonathan Miller - (304) 340-3147 -  jonathan@delegatejmiller.com

Delegate Anthony Barill - (304) 340-3173 -  anthony.barill@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Denise Campbell - (304) 340-3145 -  denise.campbell@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Thomas Campbell - (304) 340-3280 -  tcampbell@grcs.com

Delegate Ryan Ferns - (304) 280-7133 -  ryan.ferns@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer -  (304) 340-3169 -  barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Tiffany Lawrence - (304) 340-3152 -  lawrencefordelegate@hotmail.com

Delegate Charlene Marshall - (304) 340-3900 -  charlene.marshall@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Cliff Moore - (304) 340-3189 -  clif.moore@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ricky Moye - (304) 340-3162 -  rickymoye@wvhouse.gov

Delegate David Perry - (304) 340-3117 -  d.perry@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Linda Phillips - (304) 340-3163 -  linda.phillips@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Measha Poore - (304) 340-3248 -  meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ralph Rodighiero - (304) 340-3154 -  ralph.rodighiero@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Margaret Staggers - (304) 340-3197 -  margaret.staggers@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Troy Andes -  (304) 340-3121 -  troy.andes@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Joe Ellington - (304) 340-3172 -  joe.ellington@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Eric Householder - (304) 340-3274 -  eric.householder@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Patrick Lane - (304) 340-3275 -  patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Carol Miller - (304) 340-3176 -  carol.miller@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Amanda Pasdon - (304) 340-3153 -  amanda.pasdon@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ruth Rowan  - (304) 340-3157 -  ruth.rowan@wvhouse.gov

This bill will be taken up at the meeting on Wednesday, February 9th at 4:00 p.m. Phone calls to your legislators is prefered due to the short time we have to reach these members before they vote - but please CALL NOW and also FOLLOW-UP by email!

Legislation to increase West Virginia’s excise tax on tobacco products is currently awaiting action in both the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee and the  House  Health and Human Resources Committee.

This legislation calls for increasing West Virginia’s tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack to $1.55 and also increase the tax on other tobacco products (cigars, snuff, snus, etc.) to 50 percent of the wholesale price of the product.

As introduced, these bills also call for dedicating $27 million to tobacco prevention and education programs as recommended for West Virginia by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids ,  studies and experience in state after state show that higher cigarette taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking among both youth and adults. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.

Passage of the proposed increase in West Virginia would result in 19,100 young people being saved from becoming lifetime smokers, 13,100 current adult tobacco users would quit and 9,500 premature dealth from tobacco-related illnesses would be prevented.

Legislators need to hear from their constituents that they should support this legislation this year!

The tobacco tax legislation is likely to be worked on the Senate side first and it is important that you contact  Senate Health and Human Resources Committee members NOW and ask that they support SB-362.

Contact information for Senate HHR Committee members is as follows:

Senator Ron Stollings - Chair - (304) 357-7939 - ron.stollings@frontier.com

Senator Dan Foster - Vice-Chair - (304) 357-7866 - daniel.foster@camc.org

Senator Truman Chafin - (304) 357-7808 - truman.chafin@wvsenate.gov

Senator Evan Jenkins - (304) 357-7956 - evan.jenkins@wvsenate.gov

Senator William Laird - (304) 357-7849 - william.laird@wvsenate.gov

Senator Ronald Miller - (304) 357-7959 - ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov

Senator Corey Palumbo - (304) 357-7880 - corey.palumbo@wvsenate.gov

Senator Roman Prezioso - (304) 357-7961 - roman.prezioso@wvsenate.gov

Senator Gregory Tucker - (304) 357-7906 - greg.tucker@wvsenate.gov

Senator Mark Wills - (304) 357-7843 - mark.wills@wvsenate.gov

Senator Jack Yost - (304) 357-7984 - jack.yost@wvsenate.gov

Senator Donna Boley - (304) 357-7905 - donnaboley@suddenlink.net

Senator Mike Hall - (304) 357-7901 - delegate200@hotmail.com

Make your voice heard and call or email these legislators TODAY and urge their support of SB-362!

Join tobacco control advocates, activists and concerned citizens from throughout West Virginia as we take our message to the Capitol on Thursday, March 3rd. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your project, discuss your challenges with policy-makers and impact tobacco public policy in West Virginia.

Exhibition space is limited but still available and all participants must register no later than February 21st using the form attached here.

If you have any questions you can contact Cinny Kittle at 304-344-9744.

 
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) requires that cigarette packages and advertisements have larger and more visible graphic health warnings.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule, Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements, proposing to modify the required warnings that appear on cigarette packages and in cigarette advertisements. These new required warnings would consist of nine new textual warning statements accompanied by color graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking.

Timeline for Final Regulations
The Tobacco Control Act requires FDA to issue final regulations requiring these color graphics by June 22, 2011. It also specifies that the requirement for the new health warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements will take effect 15 months after issuance of this final rule.

View the Proposed Graphic Warning Images:
PDF format (PDF 13 MB) The PDF contains a composite of all of the proposed images.

JPEG format (6 MB) The zipped folder contains all of the compressed images.

Placement Location on Cigarette Packages
The Tobacco Control Act requires that the nine graphic health warnings appear on the upper portion of the front and rear panels of each cigarette package and comprise at least the top 50 percent of these panels.

Placement Location on Cigarette Advertisement
It also requires that they appear in each cigarette advertisement, and occupy at least 20 percent of the advertisement. For advertisements with a surface area less than 12 square inches, the proposed rule provides a subset of proposed color graphics to accompany the nine textual warning statements.

Public Comment
FDA is seeking public comment on the proposed rule from Friday, November 12, 2010 through Tuesday, January 11, 2011. To submit an official comment during this time period:

• Go to www.regulations.gov and insert docket number FDA-2010-N-0568 into the “search” box and follow the prompts.
• Send a fax, with your comments, to 301-827-6870.
• Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions) to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

All comments should be identified by Docket ID No. FDA-2010-N-0568. It is only necessary to send one set of comments.

Finance Committees in both the House and the Senate have passed out budget bills for FY2011 and there is good news - and bad news - in the proposals for tobacco control.

The House version of the budget restored funding to the tobacco prevention line item to the same level as FY2010 - $5,667,111 - eliminating the 11.5% cuts proposed by Governor Manchin.

However, the Senate kept the cuts advocated by Governor Manchin in his budget proposal and the Senate’s bill would only fund tobacco prevention efforts at $5,010,793.

Over the next few days the two chambers will go about the procedural requirements of appointing budget conferees who will work on hammering out differences between the two versions of the budget bill. Conferees will meet into next week during the extended budget session and, once their work is complete, the full legislature must pass the compromise budget bill to send it to the Governor.

Please contact your House and Senate members requesting that they support the funding of tobacco prevention efforts at NO LESS THAN the FY2010 level .

The West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention (DTP) has begun notifying program grantees around the state of cuts in program funding which will occur in the wake of the budget cut proposed by Governor Manchin to the tobacco education and prevention line item and currently under consideration by the legislature .

According to an email sent to DTP grant subrecipients on Monday “…the Division of Tobacco Prevention is looking at a significant reduction for SFY11 of our State tobacco education and prevention program funding. We also will not have the available the planned carry over funds that we have enjoyed in the past few years. 

” These factors, plus other potential, anticipated reductions in available tobacco prevention funding will cause at minimum a projected 30 percent reduction (as of today) in DTP funding from this to next state fiscal year.”

This reduction in program grants is significantly higher that the 11.5% overall cut proposed by the Administration and, from the programs known to have been notified yesterday, some projects will be completely eliminated.

This underscores the need to continue to ask legislators to reject the reduction in the tobacco education and prevention funding level as proposed by Governor Manchin. Contact your House of Delegate and Senate members immediately and ask that they restore the tobacco prevention funding to at least the FY2010 level.

Also, call Governor Manchin at 1-888-438-2731 and ask him to stop the cuts to existing tobacco prevention, education and cessation programs!

The Coalition for a Tobacco Free West Virginia has asked the Department of Health and Human Resources for clarification of these proposed cuts and if some of the reductions in grants comes from a change in direction or utilization of tobacco prevention funds.