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Californians support 'sin taxes' on
cigarettes Posted 2-23-98 Recent surveys show most voters are willing to levy so-called sin taxes to fund health and educational programs. A statewide Field Poll released last week found significant support for three proposed measures that would raise California’s cigarette tax by as much as $1 a pack. Other public opinion surveys released earlier this month by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yielded similar results. Of the three California measures, the most popular proposes tacking 20 cents onto the current 37-cent-per-pack state tobacco tax, with revenues earmarked for breast cancer and prostate cancer research. Seventy percent of those polled said they favored the increase. Even a majority of smokers—51 percent—said they would support the measure, which supporters hope to place on the June 2000 ballot. Sponsors of two additional California measures are seeking signatures for the November ballot. One proposal would raise the tobacco tax by 50 cents, producing an estimated $700 million in annual revenues to benefit child development programs is favored by 69 percent. A third initiative would raise cigarette taxes by a dollar a pack to fund various public education reforms. Fifty-nine percent said they would approve the measure. These outcomes echo findings from two similar surveys—one national and one in California—reported recently by the CDC. Among California respondents, 72 percent indicated they would favor a 63-cent increase in state tobacco taxes to fund improvements in public health services. Eighty-one percent of nationwide respondents favored tobacco tax hikes, and 78 percent supported raising state taxes on alcoholic beverages for this purpose. Related Site |
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