Raising The State Taxes On Tobacco - 862 Words

For years, in states such as, New York and Minnesota, they have attached high taxes to cigarettes in an attempt to both deter smokers and raise money for government programs. Missouri, however, has the lowest taxes on cigarettes in the United States; lower even than tobacco producing states such as Virginia and South Carolina. With many important state programs going unfunded, including transportation, increasing the tobacco tax could aid in the state debt of Missouri. Even former opponents of raising the taxes have begun expressing their own plans to move Missouri more in-line with the rest of the nation. Raising taxes on tobacco for the state of the Missouri’s unfunded projects could drastically open doors for more jobs for residents in the state. The raising of the tax can also fund for children initiatives and reduce the bad habits of smoking for younger adults. In my opinion raising the state taxes on tobacco can help with countless causes for the state of Missouri and the cities. Raising the taxes on tobacco products can aid in the debt of not only the state of Missouri but for the entire country of the United States. â€Å"Organizers of the â€Å"Raise Your Hand for Kids† campaign on Friday outlined their plan for a statewide ballot initiative to an audience of about 100 business, education, health and early-childhood leaders at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.† (Sherry, Proposal to Raise Missouri’s Cigarette Tax Would Fund Children’s Initiative.)Show MoreRelatedThe Challenges of Raising Tobacco and Alcohol Taxes925 Words   |  4 PagesWill raising tobacco and alcohol taxes decrease consumers and benefit to fund states and people for the rising medical costs? It has been said a lot about the dangers of smoking and drinking. We hear about it everyday in the mass media and from health professionals. It is hard to see people losing their voice, being unable to work and in the end dying because of cancer. It is also painful to watch the whole family from a household dying as a result of their car being hit by drunk driver. There areRead MoreAnalysis Of Raising Taxes On Alcohol And Tobacco1055 Words   |  4 PagesProblems with Raising Taxes on Alcohol and Tobacco: One of the major issues in the United States is healthcare insurance that has attracted huge debates and concerns among the policymakers and the public. Given the severity of this issue, policymakers and other stakeholders have been involved in efforts to identify the most effective measure to provide health insurance coverage to all. These attempts have been led to the consideration of increase in taxes on alcohol and tobacco products by theRead MoreHealth Risks Vs. 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While chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also preventable. Three health-damaging behaviors at the center of the issue are tobacco use, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. Public healthRead MoreHow The Cigarette Industry Affects Society With Disease And Reduces Social Economic Welfare1142 Words   |  5 Pagesoutweigh any economic benefits that the industry yields (Guhl Hughes n.d). To combat this, governments implement indirect taxes with the aim of reducing the number of smokers. Evidence shows that this has been the most effective means of reducing demand for cigarettes (Cotter, Dunclop Perez 2011). In the context of the competitive model, this essay will explain how taxes on cigarettes reduce demand, including discussion of the short-term and long-term price elasticity of demand, how the tax burden