Pennsylvania House Democrats Push Smokeless Tax
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/new...fears-1.749179
New smokeless tobacco tax proposal rises on youth marketing fears
HARRISBURG - Two House lawmakers are touting new proposals to levy a state tax on smokeless tobacco and cigars as a way to counter tobacco industry efforts to market new products to youth.
The sale by tobacco companies of brightly packaged tablets and pouches containing finely crushed tobacco is part of an effort to create a new youth market for smokeless tobacco, said Reps. Eugene DePasquale, D-95, York, and David Frankel, D-23, Pittsburgh, Tuesday at a Capitol press conference.
"The new products are easily concealed, spitless and smokeless," added Dr. Samuel Monismith, a member of the Pennsylvania Division of the American Cancer Society, which supports the new legislation.
As examples, the cancer society cites such products as Camel Orbs, which resemble tic-tacs, and Camel Sticks, toothpick-sized sticks that dissolve in the mouth.
By being the only state not to tax smokeless tobacco, Pennsylvania is sending youth a message that it's all right to buy these products, said Mr. DePasquale.
"We are in a sense saying 'We in Pennsylvania think it's OK,' " he said.
Mr. DePasquale estimated his tax legislation would generate $60 million to $90 million annually. He proposes dedicating half of the revenue to restoring state funding to programs that provide screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer, and urge people not to use tobacco.
The criticism leveled by anti-smoking groups against youth-oriented smokeless tobacco products offers a new twist to last year's debate over whether taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco would hurt the state's tobacco growers and several cigar plants.
Taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco were part of a budget bill approved by the Democratic-controlled House late during a 101-day deadlock. The Republican-controlled Senate balked at those taxes. The final budget increased the state cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack and included cigarellos or "little cigars" under the definition of the cigarette tax.
Critics are trying to use a broad brush to say the entire tobacco industry is marketing new smokeless products aimed at youth, said David Sutton, spokesman for Richmond-based Altria Group Inc., parent firm for Philip Morris USA, United States Smokeless Tobacco Inc. and John Middletown Inc., which has a cigar plant in Pennsylvania. Marlboro Snus, the new product introduced by Altria, doesn't dissolve in the mouth, he said.
"These (Snus) products are not designed for anyone who is underage," said Mr. Sutton. "Snus is a tobacco leaf product in a pouch. It is designed to be put next to the cheek and chewed by adults."
A recession is not the time to place new taxes on tobacco users, he said.
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Something to watch...
New smokeless tobacco tax proposal rises on youth marketing fears
HARRISBURG - Two House lawmakers are touting new proposals to levy a state tax on smokeless tobacco and cigars as a way to counter tobacco industry efforts to market new products to youth.
The sale by tobacco companies of brightly packaged tablets and pouches containing finely crushed tobacco is part of an effort to create a new youth market for smokeless tobacco, said Reps. Eugene DePasquale, D-95, York, and David Frankel, D-23, Pittsburgh, Tuesday at a Capitol press conference.
"The new products are easily concealed, spitless and smokeless," added Dr. Samuel Monismith, a member of the Pennsylvania Division of the American Cancer Society, which supports the new legislation.
As examples, the cancer society cites such products as Camel Orbs, which resemble tic-tacs, and Camel Sticks, toothpick-sized sticks that dissolve in the mouth.
By being the only state not to tax smokeless tobacco, Pennsylvania is sending youth a message that it's all right to buy these products, said Mr. DePasquale.
"We are in a sense saying 'We in Pennsylvania think it's OK,' " he said.
Mr. DePasquale estimated his tax legislation would generate $60 million to $90 million annually. He proposes dedicating half of the revenue to restoring state funding to programs that provide screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer, and urge people not to use tobacco.
The criticism leveled by anti-smoking groups against youth-oriented smokeless tobacco products offers a new twist to last year's debate over whether taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco would hurt the state's tobacco growers and several cigar plants.
Taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco were part of a budget bill approved by the Democratic-controlled House late during a 101-day deadlock. The Republican-controlled Senate balked at those taxes. The final budget increased the state cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack and included cigarellos or "little cigars" under the definition of the cigarette tax.
Critics are trying to use a broad brush to say the entire tobacco industry is marketing new smokeless products aimed at youth, said David Sutton, spokesman for Richmond-based Altria Group Inc., parent firm for Philip Morris USA, United States Smokeless Tobacco Inc. and John Middletown Inc., which has a cigar plant in Pennsylvania. Marlboro Snus, the new product introduced by Altria, doesn't dissolve in the mouth, he said.
"These (Snus) products are not designed for anyone who is underage," said Mr. Sutton. "Snus is a tobacco leaf product in a pouch. It is designed to be put next to the cheek and chewed by adults."
A recession is not the time to place new taxes on tobacco users, he said.
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Something to watch...
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