67 Percent Of VA Voters Favor Tobacco Tax Increase; Voters Embrace Increase As Way To Address Budget Deficit, Prevent Youth Smoking

8/21/2002

From: Michael Schwartzberg of the American Cancer Society, 804-527-3740 or 410-258-3465 (cell), Tony Iallonardo of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 202-296-5469 ext. 3032 or 703-812-3963 (cell), or Donna Reynolds of the American Lung Association, 804-267-1900

RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 21 -- As state legislators and the governor wrestle with Virginia's projected $1 billion budget shortfall, a new poll shows that Virginia voters overwhelmingly support a 60-cent increase in the state's tobacco tax to keep kids from smoking and raise revenue for the state.

Two-thirds of Virginia voters (67 percent) support a 60-cent per pack increase in the state's tobacco tax as part of an effort to reduce tobacco use, particularly among kids, and help address the state's budget deficit. This support comes from a broad-based coalition of voters, including 61 percent of Republicans, 81 percent of Democrats, and 67 percent of Independents. Thirty-two (32) percent of voters oppose an increase in the tobacco tax.

The survey of 625 registered Virginia voters was released today by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of Virginia and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The groups reiterated their support for increasing the state tobacco tax. Virginia has the lowest state tobacco excise tax in the nation at 2.5 cents per pack, which has not changed since 1966 and even if adjusted only for inflation during this time would today be 15 cents per pack.

In announcing its results, the sponsors pronounced the tobacco tax as a WIN, WIN, WIN for Virginia. The science and the poll together clearly demonstrate that an increase in the state's tobacco tax is a win for public health, a win for the state's fiscal health, and a win among Virginia voters.

"Increasing the tobacco tax is a proven strategy to protect thousands of Virginia kids from addiction to tobacco while, at the same time, helping address the state's severe budget crisis," said Cynthia Coldwell, chairman of the American Lung Association of Virginia. "The state legislature should listen to the people of Virginia and act quickly to raise the tobacco tax."

The poll also shows that Virginia voters will express their support for a tobacco tax increase in the voting booth. Virginia voters would look favorably on a candidate for state office who supports the tobacco tax over one who opposes it - regardless of the candidate's party affiliation. Voters would favor a Democrat who supports the tax over a Republican who opposes it by a margin of 51 percent to 37 percent. This includes a 29 of Republicans who would cross over to the Democrat. Likewise, voters would favor a Republican who supports the tax over a Democrat who opposes it by a margin of 56 percent to 28 percent. This includes a 53 percent majority of Democrats who would cross over and vote for the Republican who acts to protect kids and address the budget deficit with the tobacco tax.

"Clearly, the public views the tobacco tax in a separate category from income or other taxes. Therefore, they are not inclined to punish lawmakers who support even a substantial tobacco tax increase," said Larry Harris of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, the firm conducting the poll. "In fact, they are more likely to reward these legislators with their support."

Voters want at least some of the revenue from the tobacco tax used to protect funding for health care priorities in the state. They expressed strong support for spending the revenue from a tobacco tax increase on helping Medicare recipients pay for prescription drugs (86 percent), funding cancer treatment and prevention (82 percent) and providing health care for low income Virginians (81 percent).

At $5.57 per pack, the health care costs and lost productivity attributable to smoking are more than 200 times higher than the amount of the current tax. "By increasing the tobacco tax, Virginia will reduce tobacco use, save lives and help offset the rising health care costs and lost productivity caused by smoking," said Dr. Walter Lawrence, Director Emeritus of the Massey Cancer Center and former National President of the American Cancer Society.

The desire to fund tobacco prevention efforts also is illustrated by the majority of voters who support full funding for Virginia's tobacco prevention program. A total of 58 percent of Virginia voters say the state should fund its tobacco prevention program at a level equal to (36 percent) or greater than (23 percent) the $39 million annual minimum level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A large body of economic research, numerous expert panels, experience in other states, and even the tobacco industry have concluded decisively that price increases are effective in reducing smoking, especially among youth. No less than the U.S. Surgeon General, in the 2000 report, Reducing Tobacco Use, concluded that raising cigarette taxes is widely regarded as one of the most effective tobacco prevention strategies and that such increases would lead to "substantial long-run improvements in health." Analysis by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids shows that a 60 cent increase in Virginia's cigarette tax would save more than 53,000 Virginia kids alive today from the death, addiction and disease caused by tobacco use. The reductions in smoking that result from the tax would also save $1 billion in tobacco-related health care costs in Virginia. The additional tax would provide an immediate revenue boost of $367 million in the first year alone to help balance the budget and fund vital programs.

The survey of 625 registered voters was conducted August 12 to 14, 2002 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. The survey has a margin of error of (plus)/- 4 percentage points.