COLUMBUS, OHIO – Today, the Ohio Senate passed its version of the budget, which didn’t include the increased tobacco taxes or funding for programs to reduce tobacco use proposed by Gov. DeWine. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) strongly opposes this move and calls on the upcoming conference committee on HB 96 to reverse this action.
The Following is a Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Government Relations Director Leo Almeida:
“Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ohio, resulting in 20,200 deaths each year, including 33.5% of cancer deaths.
“That is why it is unthinkable that the House and Senate slashed funding for the Ohio Department of Health’s Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program. The Governor proposed an increase in funding to $10 million per year, but the House and Senate chose to cut funding to $6 million annually. This decrease in funding means 500 more Ohio kids will grow up to become addicted adults who smoke. With Big Tobacco spending $409.6 million marketing their deadly and addictive products in our state annually, well-funded, fact-based tobacco control programs are needed more than ever.
“The House and Senate also passed budgets that stripped Gov. Mike DeWine's proposal to raise the state’s cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack and taxes on other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The $1.50 per pack cigarette tax increase would have generated $318.82 million in new annual revenue, prevented 11,800 Ohio youth from becoming adults who smoke, saved 14,200 lives and millions in Medicaid costs.
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network applauds the Governor for standing up for public health and calls on the conference committee to change course by increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation and adding the cigarette tax increase along with a parallel tax on all other tobacco products at 42% of their wholesale price back into the budget at $10 million per year.
“Ohio can and must do better to reduce the toll of tobacco, save lives and generate new, reliable income for the state.”
