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Anti-smoking activists claimed strong support Tuesday for increasing the state’s tobacco tax by $1 to help fill a gaping hole in the state budget.
As evidence, they cited a new poll they released showing nearly three-quarters of Georgians support such a tax.
The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of a coalition of anti-smoking groups, shows a broad spectrum of voters backing the tax increase, which estimates show would raise more than $350 million a year in revenue.
The poll of 500 likely voters was taken Feb. 23-25 and has a margin of error of 4.38 percent with 95 percent confidence.
“Now is the time for legislators to listen to the 73 percent of Georgia voters who want to raise the tobacco tax instead of cutting critical programs,” said Danny McGoldrick, vice president of research for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, one of the groups that sponsored the poll along with the American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society.
State lawmakers are facing a potential $1 billion deficit for the budget that takes effect July 1 and are considering wide-ranging cuts that could lead to thousands of layoffs, dramatic college tuition increases and loss of some state services. McGoldrick and others believe the tobacco tax increase, which would raise the price of cigarettes by $1 and other tobacco products by 15 percent to 20 percent, is a smarter way to go.
The poll asked respondents about other potential sources of revenue, including a general income tax increase or cuts to services. A general income tax increase had the support of only 19 percent while implementing a sales tax on groceries fared even worse, with 13 percent support. The most-favored alternative to a cigarette tax in the poll was reducing funding for Medicaid, which received the support of 28 percent of respondents.
Leaders in the Republican-controlled General Assembly have typically refused to consider any tax increase. But the severity of cuts necessary to balance the budget have led many, including House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), to say almost everything is up for consideration. Ralston, however, continues to have strong concerns about any tax increase.
That has given hope to Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), the sponsor of HB 39, which would implement the $1-a-pack tobacco tax increase.
Stephens said when he introduced the plan last year, leadership refused to talk about it.
Now, however, “it’s on the table,” he said.
“It’s on top of the table, it’s not under the table.”
source: ajc.com