Hi everyone! I have been writing to the Legislators in Maine about raising cigarette taxes.....again! It was in the Bangor News yesterday that Maine has a tax revenue surplus of $25 million or 'more,' for the current fiscal year. I am burning mad over this, and have emailed the Representatives about this. I just received one email from a Representative (female) and I would like to know how you all would answer her on this one:
Smokers as a group are costing everyone more money in health care costs. Why should my non-smoking constituents have to pay more because you choose to gamble with your health? The cigarette tax increase that I voted for goes directly to health care costs.
How would any of you respond to this one?

You might ask her how much obese people are costing. Or is it just smokers she wants to punish for "choosing to gamble" with their health?

Somewhere I think I have data on this and will post if I can find it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Darlene:
) Smokers as a group are costing everyone more money in health care costs. Why should my non-smoking constituents have to pay more because you choose to gamble with your health? The cigarette tax increase that I voted for goes directly to health care costs.

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The only way to posit that smokers cost society more money in health care costs is to assume that nonsmokers never get sick or die. You have been misled by the paid professional anti-smoker zealots, and it is not fair to one in four of your consituents. You were elected to represent ALL the people, not a select group of single issue activists with an agenda who are willing to sacrifice not only freedom of choice in America but are enthusiastic about the outrageous amounts of money they can extort from smokers.

(Of course, that would just piss her off, so you might point out that the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service spent 22 months and 2 million dollars researching the issue and came to a very different conclusion. They said in 1994 and reiterated in 1999 that smokers pay more into the system than they ever take out. The CRS report is available online.)

Darlene,

Go to http://www.cato.org

At the top of the page, in the "search Cato" box, type in "smoking costs", and hit enter. Gobs of good stuff there.

WOW GUYS, This is GREAT!!! I am compiling all of this stuff for a really good reply to her! So far, none of them can rectify their statements about how Maine takes issue with the Cornell University Report AND the Surgeon Generals. LOL! They can't, that's why! They think they have us "buffaloed." Anyway, Martha, if you have time, let me know what you have, also! And remember that Representative Joe Brooks who wanted that butt deposit to pass? I emailed him, and being the professional he is, this is what I got back from him:
[b]Darlene: Check my voting record a little closer before blasting away! Joe Brooks[b/]
I have the roll call here in front of me. What IS he talking about? He hates smokers! Let me go check out this new link!!! Thanks again!!!

In addition to Mark's link, you can also use info straight from HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010, a government report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, January 2000.

Under "Overweight and Obesity," it says: "Total costs (medical cost and lost productivity) attributable to obesity alone amounted to an estimated $99 billion in 1995."

Under "Tobacco Use," it says: "Direct medical costs attributable to smoking total at least $50 billion per year."

So you might ask the Representative who's paying the health care costs from obesity? Seems to me we all are, including smokers!

As for alcohol abuse, the estimated annual economic cost to the U.S. was $167 billion in 1995, so says the government report.

What's more, even though our government screeches about tobacco use among kids, it's alcohol (not tobacco) that's associated with the leading causes of death among our youth: "Alcohol abuse alone is associated with motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides, and drowning - leading causes of death among youth."
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/

These links are WONDERFUL!! Thanks so much!!! I appreciate the time you take to help me. Even though I am a motor mouth, I sometimes get a brain cramp, and then I come to you all for help! This is great! "They" sure don't like my responses, though. ah ha!

Here’s the exact statement from the Congressional Research Service report that Spinner mentioned:

“Smoking has apparently brought financial gain to both the federal and state governments, especially when tobacco taxes are taken into account. In general, smokers do not appear to currently impose net financial costs on the rest of society.” (CRS Report for Congress, “The Proposed Tobacco Settlement: Who Pays for the Health Costs of Smoking?” by Jane G. Gravelle, Senior Specialist in Economic Policy, Government and Finance Division, Updated October 12, 1999)

Here's more in case you need it:

“A National Bureau of Economic Research study by W. Kip Viscusi [an economist and Harvard Law Professor] in the United States showed that when all costs and taxes were taken into account, each pack of cigarettes consumed saved society 83 [cents] – or $20-billion (U.S.) annually.” (National Post [Canada], 1-22-99, “They didn’t inhale?”)

“After all, the alternative to death from a smoking-related illness is not immortality and perfect health – it is later death, and perhaps from a more costly illness…or larger nursing home costs… The message is fairly clear. An increased tax based on the costs smokers impose on nonsmokers has not been justified. The evidence indicates that smokers are already paying, or possibly more than paying, their way.” (Washington Post, 6-5-94, “The Marlboro Man,” Jane Gravelle and Dennis Zimmerman, economists at the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress)

“The states sued the tobacco companies on the theory that they were entitled to ‘reimbursement’ for the losses they incur in treating smokers who get sick. But there are no losses. Most states collect far more in tobacco taxes than they pay out in medical costs to treat smoking-related illnesses. Massachusetts, for example, spends about $200 million annually on health care for smokers. But it takes in more than $300 million per year in tobacco excise and sales taxes. Far from depleting the state treasury, smokers enrich it with a $100 million annual surplus.” (Boston Globe, 4-12-99, “About the tobacco money,” Jeff Jacoby, Globe columnist)




[This message has been edited by Martha Perske (edited 06-29-2001).]

Martha, that is wonderful!! I sure appreciate the time you all took to help me with this! I haven't returned her email yet. I am compiling a good, respectible answer for her. Ring her bells a little.
You all are such a wonderful wealth of information for me!! Means more to me then you will ever know!! I know they get upset with me for writing to them, since I am not "in their districts," but I do live in this State! And they 'do' govern and raise my taxes. So I believe that should give me SOME rights, right?

Right, Darlene. Your state legislators make laws that affect ALL Maine residents - not just those in their districts. I should think that would certainly give you the right to let them hear from you.

While you're at it, you might ask this Representative why smokers' so-called health care costs aren't being paid for out of the money your state gets from the tobacco settlement? After all, YOU'RE the one who's footing the bill for that since it's common knowledge that the tobacco companies simply raised prices to cover the settlement payments.

And now your legislators want you to pay AGAIN with increased taxes? Where did that tobacco settlement money go?

Maybe you should ask this representative for a detailed account of how the tobacco settlement money is being spent, and if it's not being spent on smokers' health care costs, can she explain why?

What's more, it seems that smokers were already paying their way (and then some) through state cigarette taxes and sales taxes, even without the tobacco settlement money. Where did THAT money go?

Just keep asking questions, Darlene, and keep at it until you get answers. They've buffaloed you for too long.

Martha, very very good points! And I have taken note of them, that's for sure! It's going to be interesting trying to get the straight truth out of them. To which I doubt they have. I think Spinner is right, also, when he made the comment about "the Legislators have been misled by the paid professional anti-smoker zealots!" It leads me to wonder if there aren't "kick backs" in the works. Something sure is going on in this State.....

Darlene, you might also toss this out to your legislators - a recent study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which found that being obese is worse than smoking.

"How serious a health problem is obesity? In a report published in the current issue of the British journal Public Health, two RAND researchers find that obesity is associated with higher rates of chronic medical conditions and with worse physical health-related quality of life than are lifetime smoking, problem drinking or poverty."

In other words, obesity tops smoking as a risk. Gee, I've not heard of any legislators going after fat people as they have smokers, have you?

Maybe it's time we turn the tables and ask our legislators how much they weigh. Heh-heh.

OBESITY LINKED TO HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND WORSE PHYSICAL QUALITY OF LIFE THAN SMOKING, DRINKING OR POVERTY, News Release, 6-7-01

Martha! Very Good!!! When I heard that on the news last week, I jumped up and down with glee! I know a lot of people struggle so with being over weight, and it can't be easy. I worked once, with a big huge man! He walked slow, couldn't keep up, [b]never smoked in his life[b/] but was sick all the time!!! He didn't miss a lot of work, but he couldn't Keep UP!! So, I am grateful for this study. I hope it takes some heat off of the smoker. If we all copy and save your link to our HD, and then use it and use it to what ever legislator comes down on us as a smoker, maybe we can keep this study alive. What do you think?

PS: how come when I try to make a sentence bold, it won't work all the time? Am I doing something wrong??? [b]Lets try this again[b/]

didn't work........booohoooing......

Darlene, you did everything right except the slash needs to be in front of the "b" instead of behind it. It should look like this: [/b]

for heaven's sake, don't I feel stupid.....Thanks, Martha!!! (blame it on my keyboard!

Darlene and Martha - I've printed up this great and informative page for future reference and safekeeping. Each pack puts $.83 into the state coffers over our so-called health expenses? I do believe our respectable State Attorney General ought to be reminded. Many thanks, you two - and it's wonderful to be back.

Hi Jane! Happy 4th! Well, if you will go over to Critical Thinking, and see the artical Martha posted about the American Medical Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, combining forces and calling themselves "The Smokeless Tobacco States," then go and see if your state is in the pocket of this despicable duo, then you will REALLY be ticked off! I couldn’t believe this chit!

Maine bellows they needed to raise cigarette taxes……”again!” to balance their budget! However, what about the Tobacco Settlement? And then we find this chit about the Smokeless Tobacco States receiving huge grants for everytime they ban smoking somewhere in their state or raise taxes! Now! Where is “that” money going??? What a moulty lot they are! They disgust me.

Our Carey Medical Hospital up here receives funding for a big MRI machine, after being totally smoke free for the past two years. Can’t even smoke in your own car in their parking lot. Now, they have “funding” for a big MRI machine? Go figure! Two and two makes what?