Wednesday, January 1, 2003

They say that the only thing certain in life is death and taxes. Apparently, this truism doesn't apply to the tobacco industry.

In 1971, when Georgia last raised its excise tax on cigarettes, the cost of a pack in Georgia was about 41 cents, and 12 cents of that was state excise tax. In 2002, the cost of a pack of cigarettes in Georgia is $3, and still just 12 cents of that is state excise tax. Strangely, there is no tax at all on smokeless tobacco in Georgia. Does anyone have the number for their tax attorney?

As a dyed-in-the wool Republican, I never thought that I would support a tax increase of any kind. But increasing the tobacco user tax in Georgia by 75 cents makes too much sense to ignore.

Georgia taxpayers spend over $400 million per year treating uninsured tobacco related disease. As a Republican, I may oppose most taxes, but I support personal responsibility, and I think it's time for smokers to pay their fair share.

If there is such a thing as a good tax, the tobacco user tax being proposed by the American Cancer Society and other health organizations is it. Studies show that the most effective way to keep kids from smoking is by raising the price. The proposed 75-cent increase could also generate over $500 million per year in new revenue for our troubled state economy.

When you consider that Medicaid is spending over $400 million per year treating tobacco-related disease in Georgia, it seals the deal. Protecting kids, generating new revenue, and saving millions more: Sounds like a triple win to me.

Stephen Ott

Fayetteville