Indiana Lawmaker: Cigarette Tax Hike Not Likely

There has been a push to raise Indiana's tax on a pack of cigarettes by $2.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - An increase of Indiana’s taxes on cigarettes is not likely this year.

Democratic lawmakers including Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) said at a public event this week that there is not a great deal of support at the Statehouse for an effort to increase the state tax on a pack of smokes by $2.

Lanane said he will try to get the tax increase inserted into the state budget bill before it is finalized this month.

The current state tax on cigarettes is 99-cents per pack.

Last week, supporters of the higher cigarette tax held a rally at the state capitol. The rally was organized by the Raise it For Health campaign, a coalition of 200 Indiana organizations.

“Smoking kills approximately 30 Hoosiers a day, which adds up to 11,000 residents dying each year from tobacco-related illness,” said Bryan Hannon, Indiana government relations director at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Chair of Raise It for Health. “…It is irresponsible for Indiana lawmakers not to increase the cigarette tax when they know doing so will save lives.”

Smoking kills approximately 11,000 residents die each year from tobacco-related illnesses.

Raise it For Health says a survey of voters showed 70 percent supported the increase with some revenue being dedicated to tobacco prevention programs to keep kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit. The poll also found that two-thirds of voters are more likely to support a state legislator who supports a cigarette tax increase.

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