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Health & Fitness

Illinois Tobacco Tax Increase a Victory for Kids and Taxpayers, Minnesota should follow

The State of Illinois recently decided to raise the price of tobacco products. Minnesota lawmakers should pay attention.

Some interesting news arrived just in time for World No Tobacco Day this year: Illinois leaders doubled the cigarette tax to $1.98 per pack. It’s fantastic news for families and taxpayers in the Land of Lincoln. It’s quite likely that 72,700 kids will never become smokers and 38,600 deaths in the state will be prevented.

While this is great news for Illinois, it’s a reminder of how passive Minnesota’s policy makers have been on this issue. Back in the eighties, we were the national leader on cigarette taxes. Our current cigarette tax is only $1.23 – well below the national average of $1.49.

Smoking is an expensive problem for our state. Each year, tobacco use is responsible for more than 5,100 deaths in Minnesota and smoking costs us nearly $3 billion in excess health care costs.

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It’s been demonstrated that raising the price of tobacco is one of the most effective ways to encourage tobacco users to quit and prevent our children from starting. It’s common sense, and what’s working in Illinois can also work here. A $1.50 tobacco tax increase would prevent 41,000 kids from becoming addicted adults and help 30,000 Minnesotans quit.

Surveys show that raising cigarettes taxes is a popular idea, supported by a majority of Minnesotans. We consider ourselves a national leader in healthy living and people understand (even if some politicians don’t) that higher tobacco taxes are always a win-win-win – a health win that will reduce tobacco use and save lives, a financial win that will raise millions and a political win that polls show voters approve.

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As a parent about to send a freshman to Northwestern University in Illinois, I commend lawmakers for their leadership on the tobacco price issue. With continued focus on the tremendous harm and cost of tobacco, we’ll have action here – soon. Please encourage your legislators to support a tobacco tax increase for our state.

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