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New Poll Shows Ohio Voters Favor $1 Cigarette Pack Tax
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
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A new poll conducted for some major health organizations shows Ohioans support raising cigarette taxes. Shelly Kiser with the American Lung Association says the poll shows 63 percent of Ohio voters favor an increase of $1 a pack. And she says that’s not all.
"We also found they are supportive of matching the other tobacco products tax which covers those types of tobacco like e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah, pipe tobacco and other types of tobacco that are not covered by the cigarette tax and matching," Kiser said.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has proposed raising cigarette taxes in Ohio by 30 cents a pack this year and 30 more cents next year. Kiser says the money from Kasich’s plan would not be used for smoking cessation and prevention programs. She says this poll shows 79 percent of those surveyed say if the state does raise the tobacco tax, it is important to dedicate part of the revenue to those prevention and cessation programs.