Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee - CHART - Hails Proposed Legislation to Increase Cigarette Tax.

Business Editors/News & Political Writers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2002

Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee (CHART) today applauded 30 members of the Tennessee General Assembly for sponsoring bills that would increase the state's cigarette tax by 30 cents. Tennessee's cigarette tax hasn't been raised since 1969.

On Jan. 14, Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D - Clarksville) filed a bill (SB 2136) to increase the state's cigarette tax from 13 cents to 43 cents, near the current national average of 44.8 cents. Co-sponsors are Sen. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis), Sen. Roscoe Dixon (D-Memphis) and Sen. Curtis Person (R-Memphis).

Today, Rep. Mark Maddox (D - Dresden) filed a companion bill (HB 2876) co-sponsored by 25 other Representatives: John Arriola (D-Nashville), Diane Black (R-Gallatin), Henri Brooks (D-Memphis), Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga), Gene Caldwell (D-Clinton), Chris Clem (R-Lookout Mountain), John DeBerry (D-Memphis), Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville), Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley), Joe Fowlkes (D-Pulaski), John Hood (D-Murfreesboro), Sherry Jones (D-Nashville), Ulysses Jones (D-Memphis), Mike Kernell (D-Memphis), Chris Newton (R-Chattanooga), Gary Odom (D-Nashville), Doug Overbey (R-Maryville), Bob Patton (R-Johnson City), Don Ridgeway (D-Paris), David Shepard (D-Dickson), Paul Stanley (R-Germantown), Curry Todd (R-Collierville), Joe Towns (D-Memphis), Ben West (D-Hermitage), and Bobby Wood (R-Harrison).

"The fact that such a diverse group of legislators -- men and women, Democrats and Republicans, urban and rural - have come together to support this legislation illustrates how much sense this makes to people of all backgrounds all across this state," said Marianne Bouldin, executive director of CHART. "It's time to stand up and do what is right for Tennesseans. We applaud Rep. Maddox and the other co-signers for joining Sen. Kurita and her Senate co-sponsors on this important legislation."

Based on figures from state fiscal notes, the proposed 30-cent increase would raise more than $160 million for the state in new revenue. By law, money raised by Tennessee's cigarette tax is earmarked for K-12 education.

"The experience of other states has confirmed studies by the Surgeon General which show that raising the cigarette tax results in decreased smoking among teenagers. That is something worth fighting for," said Rep. Maddox. "Every year, thousands of Tennessee's teenagers, our daughters and sons, become addicted to cigarettes. It is a deadly habit, and it is time to do what we can to stop it."

Sen. Kurita expressed similar sentiments when she filed her bill last week.

"Now is the time for Tennesseans to protect our children," she said. "Research shows us that bringing Tennessee's cigarette tax up to the national average would decrease the number of teenagers who begin to smoke."

According to a 2000 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, increases in cigarette excise taxes are an effective policy tool in deterring smoking initiation among youth, prompting smoking cessation among adults, and reducing the average cigarette consumption among continuing smokers.

A 2000 report by the Centers for Disease Control showed that 41 percent of Tennessee high school students smoke, the highest percentage in the nation. More than 9,300 Tennesseans die from illnesses related to smoking each year.

Founded in 1999, CHART is a cooperative effort of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and more than 30 other Tennessee health and community agencies.