Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/01/1996 03:03 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
February 1, 1996
3:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chair
Representative Con Bunde, Co-Chair
Representative Gary Davis
Representative Norman Rokeberg
Representative Caren Robinson
Representative Tom Brice
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Al Vezey
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
* HOUSE BILL NO. 431
"An Act relating to taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products; and
providing for an effective date."
- PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 431
SHORT TITLE: INCREASE TOBACCO TAXES
SPONSOR(S): HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/19/96 2484 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
01/19/96 2484 (H) HES, STA, L&C, FINANCE
02/01/96 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
KAREN PERDUE, Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services
P.O. Box 110601
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0601
Telephone: (907) 465-3030
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
PAT CARR, Health Program Manager
Division of Public Health
Department of Health & Social Services
P.O. Box 110610
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0610
Telephone: (907) 465-8618
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
ARLISS STURGULEWSKI, Volunteer
Citizens to Protect Kids From Tobacco
3301 C Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Telephone: (907) 561-5286
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
DAVID SWEANOR
Non-Smokers' Rights Association
130 Albert Street, No. 1903
Ottowa, Ontario
Canada KIP5G4
Telephone: (613) 230-4211
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
ELLEN FARLEY, Physician
Valley Medical Care
2472 Scott Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 586-2434
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
BOB BARTHOLOMEW, Deputy Director
Division of Income & Excise Audit
Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 110420
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0420
Telephone: (907) 465-2320
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 431
HARLAN KNUDSON, President
Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association
319 Seward Street, No. 11
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 586-1790
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
MIKE KORKILL, Member
Adolescent Health Advisory Committee
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Telephone: (907) 451-5316
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
JIM PLUMLEY
P.O. Box 3077
Palmer, Alaska 99645
Telephone: (907) 376-8051
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
PATTI TRUESDELL
250 Hospital Place
Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Telephone: (907) 262-8166
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
PEGGY MULLEN
355 Lingonberry
Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Telephone: (907) 262-9225
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
VEVA BECKER
American Cancer Society
4137 Rosebud Lane
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
Telephone: (907) 479-6968
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
TOM DANIELS, Member
Board of Directors
Alaskan Chapter, American Cancer Society
8141 Altna Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
Telephone: (907) 279-8561
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
JENNY MURRAY, Tobacco Policy Coordinator
American Lung Association of Alaska
1057 West Fireweed
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Telephone: (907) 263-1087
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
ANNE MARIE HOLEN
Alaska Native Health Board
1345 Tudakof Circle, No. 206
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Telephone: (907) 337-0028
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
MICHAEL LIVINGSTON, Police Officer
Address: Not Available
Telephone: Not Available
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
JUDITH MULLER, Executive Director
Alaska Health Fair; and
Chairman, Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance
P.O. Box 202587
Anchorage, Alaska 99520
Telephone: (907) 278-0234
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
DELISA CULPEPPER
Alaska Public Health Association
1874 Wickersham Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
Telephone: (907) 563-7425
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
DR. RODMAN WILSON, Acting Executive Director
Alaska State Medical Association
800 M Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Telephone: (907) 276-6142
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
RUTH PARRIOTT, Representative
Tobacco Tax Policy Project
American Cancer Society
2929 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Telephone: Not Available
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 431
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-5, SIDE A
Number 008
The House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee
was called to order by CO-CHAIR TOOHEY. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Toohey, Bunde, Rokeberg,
Robinson, and Brice. Members absent were Representative G. Davis
and Vezey. Co-Chair Toohey announced today's calendar was HB 431,
Increase Tobacco Taxes.
HB 431 - INCREASE TOBACCO TAXES
Number 070
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY stated Co-chair Bunde was the sponsor of HB 431 and
asked him to present the sponsor statement.
Number 088
CO-CHAIR BUNDE clarified this is a HESS Committee bill, offered by
the HESS Committee, at Co-Chair Bunde's request. While it is a
committee bill, it is a personal committee bill for Co-Chair Bunde.
He explained that cigarettes killed his mother, or as some would
say, she used cigarettes to kill herself. In the era when his
mother began smoking, it was considered sophisticated and the
positive thing to do.
Number 152
CO-CHAIR BUNDE said he was very concerned that the media blitz from
the tobacco industry is expanding in such a way that young people
in our society will fall into the same trap his mother fell into;
that it's the sophisticated, accepted thing to do. Because of his
concern, Co-Chair Bunde said he was offering this legislation
relating to taxes on tobacco products, which he looks at as an
economic barrier more than anything else. He addressed the issue
of taxes versus user fees. Without playing semantic games, he
thinks taxes are what each of us pay whether we use the service or
not. User fees, in this case, involve only those who smoke.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE read a portion of his sponsor statement for the
record:
There is an epidemic in our state that is killing more
Alaskans each year than motor vehicle accidents, firearms,
drugs and alcohol combined. That, of course, is tobacco.
This is an epidemic that usually starts in childhood and
is preventable.
Alaska has one of the highest smoking rates in the United
States. Nearly 84 percent of Alaskan adults started smoking
between the ages of 10 and 20 years of age.
Obviously adults don't start smoking, children do. The
average age for a youngster starting smoking is 14.5 years.
Annually, 3,000 children in the United States start smoking
every day. Of those, approximately one-third will die from
from tobacco related illnesses. HB 431 is about prevention,
it's about an economic barrier because the youth in our
state are so price sensitive. They have a limited
discretionary income. The passage of this legislation will
drastically decrease the use of tobacco in the young. As the
price of cigarette and tobacco products increase, many young
smokers won't start smoking and others who already smoke will
be encouraged to quit. As a matter of fact, I've talked with
adults who have told me that a price increase will push them
over the edge and encourage them to quit.
In Alaska, the estimated total medical costs directly related
to smoking in 1993 alone was $96,490,000. It makes sense to
prevent future escalation of our health care costs by creating
economic incentives for children and adults to quit using
tobacco products. House Bill 431 will decrease the use of
tobacco and help decrease further increases in our health care
costs.
Again, let me stress HB 431 is a user fee. The price increase
caused by this fee will work in favor of Alaskans. Studies
show that for every 10 percent increase in price in tobacco
products, there has been a 4 percent decrease in tobacco
consumption. An even greater decrease among children.
Alaska's current cigarette tax is 29 cents a pack. That ranks
us twenty-sixth in the nation. I urge the committee to
support HB 431 for the future health of our youth and our
adults.
Number 416
CO-CHAIR BUNDE commented there were a number of people signed up to
testify and wanted to briefly introduce those individuals who would
be testifying: Commissioner Karen Perdue, Department of Health &
Social Services; Pat Carr, program manager, Department of Health &
Social Services; former Senator Arliss Sturgulewski; David Sweanor,
nationally recognized worker in the Non-Smokers' Rights
Association; Dr. Farley, physician with Valley Medical Care;
representatives from the Department of Revenue; several individuals
testifying via teleconference; and Ruth Parriott, American Cancer
Society.
REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS arrived at 3:10 p.m.
Number 492
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked if there were any comments or questions from
the committee. Hearing none, the meeting was opened for public
testimony. Co-Chair Toohey called Commissioner Perdue forward to
testify.
Number 515
KAREN PERDUE, Commissioner, Department of Health & Social Services,
said on behalf of the Knowles Administration, she applauded the
leadership of the HESS Committee for introducing HB 431 and fully
supports the legislation. As the health agency, the department is
especially interested in the public health aspects of the
prevention approach. She refrained from citing statistics, but
offered a few key points: Tobacco is the leading cause of death
for Alaskans; there are more kids starting to smoke than ever
before; smoking costs not only lives, but lots of money; and this
tax is supported by the public. She commented that Alaskans will
probably be hearing evidence not regarding the issue of the health
effect, but how taxes relate to solving the problem. She concluded
that because we are aware of the devastating effects of tobacco use
and know it is the leading cause of death in Alaska, we all should
be willing to do everything we can, even if the evidence isn't
entirely conclusive, to prevent this disease from continuing to
kill people. She concluded by saying anything we can do to prevent
the youth from starting to smoke and prevent adults from continuing
to smoke is a very worthwhile effort.
REPRESENTATIVE CAREN ROBINSON said there is not a lot of assistance
available to help treat people who are trying to stop smoking. She
asked Commissioner Perdue if there had been any discussion in the
department about what avenues should be taken to not only target
the youth who are smoking, but also help them get the information
and treatment they need to stop.
Number 680
PAT CARR, Health Program Manager, Division of Public Health,
Department of Health & Social Services, stated she supported the
comments made by Co-Chair Bunde in terms of the significance of the
health problem and the cost of using tobacco. In response to
Representative Robinson's question, she said the leading voluntary
health organizations, particularly the American Cancer Society and
American Lung Association, have been very active in the area of
sponsoring programs for tobacco cessation. Some of the efforts
that have also been considered are programs started within the
schools to work with young people. These programs however, are not
widespread. There aren't any national programs that have looked at
nicotine addiction among children as young as Alaska is working
with. In some communities work is being done with children in the
second through sixth grades, where regular users are as high as 5
percent.
Number 750
MS. CARR addressed some of the variations between the urban areas
and the rural areas of the state. In some of the rural areas, one-
third of the population are regular users of tobacco and sometimes
it is higher. In urban areas, there's a 25 percent rate.
Statistics show a lower rate among individuals who are more
educated. There are some variations to work with since not all
communities are the same. On the national level, there are a
variety of strategies to reduce tobacco use that have been shown to
have some efficacy. She pointed out that education alone is not
changing the behavior among the population. A couple of the issues
looked at were how do children get access to tobacco products and
the advertising and promotion, but the one strategy that seemed to
have the greatest effect was increasing prices of tobacco which
results in children having less access to tobacco.
Number 825
MS. CARR commented on things happening in Alaska in terms of
organizations such as the American Heart Association, American
Cancer Society, medical associations and public health associations
working together. Another strong organization is the Alaska
Tobacco Control Alliance, which is made up of over 200 people in
rural and urban areas of the state. These organizations are able
to offer some strategies to individuals calling to find out what
can be done in their community. Ms. Carr concluded that as
leaders who care about the health of all Alaskans and the cost of
the health care system, the strategies that we can try through
increasing the price of tobacco is a worthwhile endeavor.
Number 885
CO-CHAIR BUNDE commented an area that hasn't been talked about yet
is smokeless tobacco. He asked Ms. Carr if the horrible stories
were correct about children in the rural areas as young as 4 and 5
years old beginning to chew tobacco.
MS. CARR answered yes, those were the kind of anecdotal reports the
department has gotten.
Number 908
ARLISS STURGULEWSKI, Volunteer, Citizens to Protect Kids From
Tobacco, said she was appreciative that the committee was
considering legislation that was going from the treatment to the
prevention side. She is enthusiastically in support of the
legislation; primarily from a public policy point of view. Adults
don't start smoking, it's kids that do. Eighty-nine percent of
adults that smoke began using cigarettes by or at the age of 18.
She believes there is really something wrong in a society where as
many children recognize Joe Camel as recognize Mickey Mouse. One
percent of teen-age smokers were smoking in 1988 when Joe Camel was
introduced; now Camels is selling 30 percent to that particular age
group. That's proof that advertising does pay. She feels the
single most effective way to reduce tobacco consumption amongst
children is by the "price sensitive" issue that will result with an
increase.
Number 1033
MS. STURGULEWSKI shared a personal story that has helped shape her
view on tobacco consumption. She and her two sisters-in-law were
in their late teens when World War II ended. They were all college
bound, thrilled with their new freedoms, and by the choices for
their futures. They all started to smoke and were soon very truly
and very completely hooked on tobacco. Ms. Sturgulewski smoked 2
l/2 packs a day when she was pregnant with her son. Her doctor was
a smoker and didn't warn her about the potential problems of
pregnant women smoking. Her son was small at birth and was born
with lots of respiratory problems. She quit smoking only because
she got very ill with pneumonia. Her sisters-in-law were not quite
so lucky. They tried prayer, acupuncture, patches, clinics, etc.
to help them in their attempts to quit smoking. Nothing worked.
One sister-in-law was buried this year; the other is being taught
at a clinic how to breathe with what is left of her lung capacity.
Number 1110
MS. STURGULEWSKI commented that tobacco taxation is often referred
to as a "sin tax." She doesn't think of it that way, but instead
thinks of it as a health tax. She said that Co-Chair Bunde had
referred to it as a user fee, but it does filter down to the public
through the associated costs. She pointed out that committee
members, as elected officials, are paying for her insurance, their
own insurance, public state employee's insurance; many of whom have
tobacco related problems. It is a hidden cost to many taxpayers,
including the general public.
Number 1150
MS. STURGULEWSKI concluded that passage of this legislation is
solidly supported by the public. It is very popular with the
public, it cuts across a very broad spectrum of the population.
She urged the committee to pass HB 431.
Number 1210
DAVID SWEANOR, testified via teleconference from Ottawa, Canada.
He spoke about the history of taxation in the United States and the
evidence of the impact of tax changes, particularly in Canada. Mr.
Sweanor has done a lot of work on tobacco tax policy in many
countries around the world, particularly the United States and
Canada. He finds it interesting that tobacco taxes in the United
States are very low compared to other countries. The tax on a pack
of cigarettes in British Columbia is $2.70 U.S. Many European
countries are much higher. Not only does the United States have
low levels of tobacco taxes, they've been falling when adjusted for
inflation. Mr. Sweanor referenced graphs that were before
committee members, and said the first graph shows the price of
cigarettes without adjustment for inflation. The second graph
depicts the price adjusted for inflation. When inflation is taken
into account, taxes are actually lower now than what they were
before we knew of the health consequences. Prior to the 1964
report of the U.S. Surgeon General, which was a landmark worldwide,
Alaska's taxes were 8 cents a pack, as was the federal tax. When
that is adjusted for inflation, the tax per pack now would be 80
cents, when in reality the tax has fallen to 53 cents. That's
because the tax hasn't kept up with inflation. As can be seen in
Graph 2, taxes have fallen behind and are doing so at precisely the
time that scientifically we came to understand what the health
problems were. Alaska has fallen behind more so than the other
states. At the time of the Surgeon General's report, Alaska's tax
was the highest in the United States; it is now firmly in the
bottom half of taxes in the United States. The importance of that
is depicted in Graph 3, which shows what has happened to the price
and the consumption in the United States over the last 40 years.
This clearly shows when the price goes up, consumption goes down.
If the price goes down, the consumption goes up. It is very much
a cause and effect relationship. That is consistent with all the
academic evidence seen in other jurisdictions. Mr. Sweanor
commented that a little over ten years ago when they started
working on increasing the tobacco taxes in Canada, all their work
was based on research done by economists in the United States which
indicated there is a range of factors that affect consumption, but
price is probably the most significant; certainly the most
significant of anything that is within the realm of being doable.
Various studies from the United States indicated the most powerful
thing they could do was to increase the price. He said that made
sense because we know that everything has some relationship when
looking at price and consumption. Kids don't have a lot of money,
they are not yet addicted to the product, they can change their
behavior so if the price goes up, they may have to decide between
buying a new baseball or buying a pack of cigarettes. Kids have
unlimited needs, but a limited ability to buy things.
Number 1438
MR. SWEANOR said Graph 4 illustrates what happened in Canada; as
the price went up from the U.S. price level similar to the European
level, teen tobacco consumption plummeted. At the beginning of the
1980s, over 40 percent of 15- to 19-year-olds in Canada were
smoking every day. It was a huge problem. By the beginning of the
1990s, that had fallen to about 16 percent. Teen tobacco
consumption fell about 60 percent and adult consumption fell about
40 percent. That's 40 percent even after taking into account the
tobacco that was coming across the border from the United States,
which was a problem in areas like Ontario and Quebec.
MR. SWEANOR directed committee members to Graph 5 which illustrates
what the impact was on government revenue. As tobacco sales fell
in association with the big increase in price, total Canadian sales
fell from over 70 billion cigarettes a year down to about 40
billion cigarettes a year: a very significant decline in a fairly
short period of time. Revenue, however, went from about $2 billion
a year to over $7 billion a year, simply because of the
relationship between price and consumption. The governments are
doing much better in making significantly more money while selling
significantly fewer packs of cigarettes.
Number 1505
MR. SWEANOR stated the real test of the relationship between price
and demand has been shown recently in Canada, (indisc.) as a result
of smuggling in Eastern Canada. He noted the smuggling that went
on was not U.S. cigarettes coming across the border in large
numbers as the tobacco companies told us would happen for a long
time. When it didn't, the Canadian companies simply took to
shifting billions of cigarettes into upstate New York, which is one
of the border crossing population centers in that part of the
country. As a result of the pressure caused by smuggling, the
government rolled back taxes in parts of the country. As a result,
a big increase in smoking is being seen, particularly among young
people. According to a major report from an Ontario government
agency that came out a couple of months ago, virtually all the
progress that was made in the last few years has been lost. For
example, among male students the smoking rate has increased from
about 22 percent in 1993 to over 28 percent in 1995. Other
population groups, particularly young people have been that much or
more pronounced. Again, it is the cause and effect relationship.
It wasn't a mere coincidence that smoking among young people in
Canada fell; it did exactly what the academic studies from the
United States indicated it would do. It responded to
affordability. As cigarettes become more affordable, the
consumption of cigarettes has gone up.
Number 1586
In conclusion, MR. SWEANOR said the tobacco industry is now saying
that price doesn't affect consumption and that tax increases do not
work, so do not increase taxes. He thinks that has about as much
credibility as everything else the tobacco industry tells us. He
commented it's odd that here's an industry that on the one hand is
telling people in Washington that smoking isn't addictive, but on
the other hand, it's going to Alaska with the message that no
matter what you do, you can't get people to quit. He reiterated
the economic research is so overwhelming. Virtually every group
that has a big interest in protecting kids, looks at the evidence
and says this has a tremendous impact. The only people he is aware
of who are claiming that it has no association with consumption is
the tobacco industry. They used to claim just the opposite until
it clearly became in their interest to try to prevent these certain
things from happening. When the tobacco industry says don't
increase tobacco taxes, we must take into account where else will
that money come from. In effect, over the last 30 years the fact
that tobacco taxes have been able to fall in real terms means that
revenue had to come from somewhere else, whether it was from fees
charged for government services, higher property taxes, taxes on
investment, taxes on income, or taxes on something else. When
looking at all the various ways that governments can generate
revenue, virtually all of them impact on some sort of behavior that
we generally would like to encourage rather than discourage. In
the case of tobacco, there is a very strong case for saying we want
to discourage the use of tobacco and prevent our children from
starting to use a product that medical science now tells us will
result in the deaths of half of all the long-term users. The tax
increase is something that works. With respect to smuggling,
there's been virtually no smuggling when anti-smuggling measures
are taken. He thought a lot of the information from the tobacco
industry on the smuggling issue is at the very least, highly
suspect and it certainly does not apply to Alaska.
Number 1705
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked Mr. Sweanor if the higher taxes in Canada
were dedicated to health-related issues, tobacco education or did
the revenues go into the general fund, like Alaska's will do.
MR. SWEANOR responded in Canada it went into the general fund,
although it was associated with other money that went into various
areas of health. For example, now there is an extra tax put on
tobacco companies, as a way of punishing them for their role in the
smuggling situation, that is directed specifically into tobacco
control activities.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE clarified that a portion of Alaska's cigarette
taxes, dating back to Territorial days, goes into the educational
fund and the rest goes into the general fund.
Number 1760
REPRESENTATIVE NORMAN ROKEBERG referred to the comment made by Mr.
Sweanor that he didn't think there would be any cross border
smuggling problems between the Yukon Territory in British Columbia
and the state of Alaska. Representative Rokeberg asked if that was
because the price schedule in this legislation would be similar to
or very close to the retail prices in the Yukon Territory.
MR. SWEANOR answered that the taxes in British Columbia amount to
$2.70 U.S. per pack. Even with the proposed increases of $1.00 per
pack plus adding in the federal tax, Alaska's tax will be more than
$1.00 a pack cheaper than British Columbia.
Number 1817
ELLEN FARLEY, Physician, Valley Medical Care, testified she is a
board-certified family physician who has lived and practiced here
in Juneau for 7 l/2 years. Prior to that, she practiced in a
variety of settings including training, Indian Health Service,
teaching in a residency and others. Everywhere she goes, tobacco
related illness is a very painful issue for people and their
doctors. She is testifying before the committee as an individual
and as a volunteer with the Alaska Chapter of the American Cancer
Society. She is also a member of the American Academy of Family
Physicians (AAFP), which is a national organization for education
and health policy. She said the AAFP is very enthusiastically
behind this kind of measure. The family practice report this month
proclaimed their public health initiatives -- AAFP fights tobacco.
She believes that all across the country, family practice doctors
are feeling an increased urgency about this issue and about the
need to take steps to prevent new smokers.
Number 1910
DR. FARLEY commented as a family doctor, she gets to see up close
and personal, how tobacco use can ravage a person's health and the
tragic losses it brings to families. The frustration is that it
was preventable, it didn't need to be like that. It has been well
established that smoking and tobacco use has major negative impacts
on the health of most users and creates enormous costs to society.
Tobacco is extremely addictive and the addiction will occur within
a very short time of regular use. Once a person is addicted, it is
very difficult to quit. She took issue with a recent article in
the Juneau Empire from an individual who said that most smokers
don't start as teens; they experiment a little bit, but start later
as an informed choice by responsible adults. She stated that is
not true.
Number 1976
DR. FARLEY said that in her work with teens, they often tell her
they thought they were experimenting. They despise smoking, but
they were rebellious, curious and very susceptible to the messages
in the advertising. They started experimenting, but found they
were hooked very quickly. She commented that in her work she sees
smokers as individuals who are suffering. They have poorer health,
are less productive and have a poorer quality of life in old age.
Her personal belief is that smokers suffer a kind of insidious
erosion of self-esteem, similar to what is seen with other kinds of
addictions. Most smokers want to quit. In her practice, she makes
every effort to work at smoking cessation counseling. She does a
lot of counseling particularly in January and February because of
New Year's resolutions and she is always ready to help people. It
turns out to be frustrating for both her and the smoker because it
is so difficult to quit. It all comes back to prevention and how
much sense it makes to try to prevent people from becoming smokers.
DR. FARLEY pointed out that research has shown there are multiple
contributing factors in the establishment of a new smoker. It
takes multiple and usually combined approaches to help people quit
smoking and to prevent people from starting to smoke. Education is
a factor, restricting access especially by minors is a factor,
eliminating advertising directed especially at young people is a
factor, as well as taxes. It is her belief that as a single
action, raising taxes is the most powerful and effective tool. She
urged the committee to pass this legislation.
Number 2108
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON remarked that she is in favor of the tax
and it is her hope that the tax increase will bring down tobacco
consumption. She has personal experience with family and friends
of just how difficult it is to make the decision to quit smoking.
She asked Dr. Farley what kind of advice she gives her patients in
smoking cessation counseling. Also, what avenues did Dr. Farley
feel should be explored for counseling for addiction within the
school system.
DR. FARLEY said individually, when she is seeing a teen-ager or
pre-teen she brings up the issue of smoking to find out what their
beliefs are, have they experimented, what are their friends doing
as far as smoking, to get a conversation established and make the
point of how quickly a person can become addicted, etc. Dr. Farley
commented she had personal experience with that because she started
smoking at the age of 11 and was firmly hooked by the time she was
13. It was surprising to her how quickly it happened. After
several attempts, she was able to quit smoking at the age of 19.
One of the things limiting her effectiveness is that most young
people at that age are very healthy and don't come to the doctor
very often. There is what she believes to be a very good education
program in Alaska called "Here's Looking at you 2000". It includes
some conflict resolution, deals with issues of drugs, alcohol,
tobacco and different forms of abuse. It is a comprehensive
program and she has observed the use of it in the Juneau School
District. She commented it is surprising how little effect
education by itself has and how much effect the economic factor
has. As far as helping people stopping to smoke, she thinks many
people will be encouraged to either quit or cut down their
consumption which will benefit their health.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked if there was any one direct tool
available to use with young people.
DR. FARLEY thought that was an area that required more attention.
She has often wondered if there shouldn't be in-patient treatment
programs for helping people to stop smoking. She commented that
many researchers feel it is as addictive as heroin. One of the
suggestions she makes to children who are smoking and have a lot of
friends who are smoking is to look for some new friends. Some
children have heeded that advice and gotten into an activity with
a group of kids who are more athletic, musical or whatever.
Number 2280
BOB BARTHOLOMEW, Deputy Director, Division of Income & Excise
Audit, Department of Revenue, testified on the tax rate changes and
the financial impacts. The current tobacco tax is collected
primarily from the cigarette and tobacco wholesalers and is 29
cents for a pack of cigarettes, or 25 percent of the wholesale
price. Those rates were implemented in 1989. The proposed
legislation would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes $1.00 to
$1.29, and increase the tobacco products tax to 100 percent of the
wholesale price. The FY 97 increase which would be effective
October 1, would be a nine month period of increased taxes, and
would raise $33.4 million. That is based on the current
consumption rates, less an elasticity factor to show what happens
to consumption when the price is raised. The department relied on
a 1994 Surgeon General's report to calculate the elasticity. As
Co-Chair Bunde had stated earlier, 5 cents of the current 29 cent
tax goes into a school fund; the remainder of the tax plus all of
the tobacco products tax goes into the general fund.
TAPE 96-5, SIDE B
Number 001
MR. BARTHOLOMEW said the department currently has a zero cost to
implement. The program would be identical to what is in place with
the current level of compliance being maintained. They will
monitor the program and if other issues related to compliance
arise, the department would need to examine that and address the
appropriate measures that would need to be taken. At this time
however, the compliance program that is in place currently will be
continued.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked how much revenue was currently collected.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW answered $17 million.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY pointed out that it would virtually double, and
asked if there wouldn't be any added costs.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW said currently, the department would not increase
the amount of paperwork or the number of tax returns being filed,
there would just be larger checks. For FY 98, which would be the
first full year at the higher tax rate, the increase would be $44
million. Basically, it would more than double. Under HB 431, the
cigarette tax would increase every three years. For example, on
July 1, 1999, this bill would increase the rate again by 24 cents
a pack; in 2002 it would be raised again by 24 cents a pack and so
forth. With regard to the tobacco products tax, the rate change
would be every two years which would be based on the consumer price
index. He explained that was basically to keep from losing pace
with inflation, as has happened in the past.
Number 088
CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked Mr. Bartholomew what the department is
projecting the total tax income to be for the first effective year
if this bill became law.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW said he would break it into two sections. The
total revenue raised in FY 97, which would have nine months of an
increase, would be $50 million. Current revenues are $17 million,
so there would be a net increase of $33 million. In FY 98, the
total tax raised would be $61.8 million, with a net increase of $44
million.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE referred to the 5 cents of the current amount that
goes into the schools and asked what percentage would be dedicated
to schools under the proposed legislation, or would it remain at 5
cents.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW replied under this legislation, the amount going
into the school fund would remain as it is currently, and the
increases would go into the general fund.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY inquired of the sponsor why the proposed
legislation didn't start off at $1.00 per pack.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE responded it does.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked if it goes to $1.25, $1.50 and so forth.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW explained the current tax is 29 cents a pack. HB
431 raises the tax initially $1.00 to $1.29 a pack; then raises it
24 cents a pack every three years after that.
Number 145
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG referred to Section 4 which bases the
amount of a tax change on the Anchorage Metropolitan Area, Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS), Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflator and
asked Mr. Bartholomew if the Anchorage Metropolitan statistics are
published once or twice a year.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW responded he would have to check with the
Department of Labor on that.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG said he thought it was once a year. He
felt it was a very poor measure to use on any kind of a CPI clause
where the statistics are only published once a year. His
experience in the business world has been that utilization of the
U.S. (indisc.) City Averages is much better because there is a
monthly baseline figure. He suggested someone look into that.
Representative Rokeberg asked Mr. Bartholomew if the Governor had
drafted a similar bill or if he had worked on any statistics of
revenue measures in the Administration's program.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW replied the division had done some work in support
for the Long Range Financial Planning Commission (LRFPC).
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked if the LRFPC had a similar stair
stepping mill rate increase.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW thought the LRFPC bill recommended the same rate
increases as this legislation recommends.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked Co-Chair Bunde if that's correct.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE replied yes.
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked what the rationale was for that.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE said it was to prevent the erosion because of
inflation as had been previously testified to.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY reminded committee members there were 13 people
signed up to testify and called the next witness to come forward.
Number 253
HARLAN KNUDSON, President, Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home
Association, testified he wanted to give four reasons for
testifying before the committee. First, the Alaska State Hospital
& Nursing Home Association was invited to join the other health
care providers in working as a group to support HB 431. This group
of health care providers see the effects of tobacco use every day
in the hospitals and with their friends. The feeling amongst the
group was that they were not being good citizens of the state if
they didn't support this legislation on behalf of the hospital
community. Second, is a personal reason. He had his last
cigarette the day before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He
has a scar to remind him that it is not a good idea to smoke. He
personally is asking the committee to support this legislation.
Third, this is not a vote for a tax increase; it is a vote for
common sense, a vote for public health, and a vote he hopes the
legislators will not walk away from. His final reason for
testifying was because of the cost of health care. He said one of
these days there is going to be good reliable data that will show
just how much cancer costs. State medicare costs need to be looked
at when we are talking about balancing the budget. He discussed
the high incidence rate of cancer among the Native community and
concluded that this legislation is a solid step toward good health
care.
Number 403
MIKE KORKILL, Member, Adolescent Health Advisory Committee,
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. The Adolescent Health
Advisory Committee is made up of a group of Alaskans who have a
united commitment to well-being and healthy lifestyles for Alaskan
adolescents as well as individuals in the context of family
(indisc.). They look at known routes to health problems and
recommend approaches for improvement through community coordination
and collaboration. They also seek to preserve the rights of all
Alaskan adolescents to grow and develop in an environment of a
physical, mental, social and spiritual being. He commented that a
group of committee members assembled last week to review the House
and Senate versions of this bill. He added there are studies which
indicate that tobacco tax increases, specifically in Canada and
California, reduced tobacco consumption by teens. It is the
feeling of the advisory group that it is in the best interest of
Alaskan teens to use the revenues generated from the tax to promote
tobacco cessation programs around the state. The advisory
committee very strongly supports this legislation.
Number 545
JIM PLUMLEY testified via teleconference from Mat-Su as a private
citizen and a former state employee who retired when he was
diagnosed with leukemia in June 1993. He said he never liked being
around smoke, but was around it constantly as an employee of the
jail system. While receiving treatment at the University of
Washington Hospital, he saw people hooked up to Ivs or had just
received chemotherapy who were standing outside having a cigarette.
He understands how addictive nicotine can be. He is in favor of
raising the cigarette tax and is hopeful the state, through the
increased tax can educate people more on the negative effects of
tobacco.
Number 614
PATTI TRUESDELL testified via teleconference from Soldotna that she
was not testifying as a 20-year employee of the hospital, not as a
Freedom From Smoking consultant, and not as the coordinator for the
Tobacco (indisc.), but as a former nicotine addict. She spoke of
prior experiences of tearing down the anti-smoking signs, and being
one of those individuals standing outside smoking. As a former
smoker and mother of four children, she is in favor of the tobacco
tax increase. She is in favor of anything that will help reduce
the number of children smoking, children starting to smoke,
children buying tobacco products and children experimenting with
tobacco. She is aware that a lot of children in the Soldotna area
chew and smoke tobacco. She concluded by saying the legislature
needs to do their job, and in turn the public will do theirs at the
local level by making sure the laws are enforced, compliance is
checked, and that the schools are doing their part with education.
Number 707
PEGGY MULLEN testified via teleconference from Soldotna as a former
nicotine addict. She smoked for what she termed as an
embarrassingly long time and quit 14 years ago. She experimented
with tobacco as a teen-ager, but didn't really get involved with it
until she was in college. As a shy person in her 20s, it made her
feel braver, smarter, and more focused. She fell for the
advertising that portrays cigarette smoking as beguiling and a very
sexy sort of drug delivery system. In the later years of her
addiction, she realized she was hurting not only herself, but the
people she loved. She had a difficult time quitting; it took
several tries over a period of several years. She finally quit
after getting angry with her father who was a recovering stroke
victim who drank and smoked for several years. When he started to
smoke again, she got angry enough at him to cause her to quit
smoking herself. She asked the committee to seriously consider
using some of the increased tax revenues to promote an advertising
campaign to keep children from starting to smoke. She mentioned
that other states like California are beginning to see some success
with a "smoking is not cool" advertising campaign.
Number 832
VEVA BECKER, American Cancer Society, testified from Fairbanks that
she is pleased the state of Alaska is taking a stand against
tobacco. It is a great step forward. She has been a tobacco
educator for youth and adults with the American Cancer Society for
over 25 years. In past years, there was a decreased use of tobacco
with the youth, but today more kids are smoking than ever, not only
in Fairbanks but in all of the Interior. She commented that most
of the smoking kids live with smoking parents. She spoke of the
respiratory problems and lung cancer among people of all
nationalities at a younger age. She expressed concern about the
increased use of cigarettes and non-smoking tobacco among the
Native population. She supports the tobacco tax increase because
nothing else is working at this time. She would like to see
cigarette machines outlawed because of the easy access for kids.
Even though sales clerks have been educated about the sale of
tobacco products, there is a lot of work that still needs to be
done in that area. Tobacco advertising in all media forms hurts
Alaska's youth.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY noted that written testimony from Kathleen Jones of
Homer had been received and was included in committee member
packets.
Number 962
TOM DANIELS, Member, Board of Directors, Alaskan Chapter, American
Cancer Society, testified from Anchorage via teleconference. He
stated the American Cancer Society is the largest voluntary
community-based health organization in the world. In Alaska, there
are more than 4,000 volunteers performing the vital work of the
cancer society. People from all walks of life here in Alaska share
their special talents and time to help fight cancer. He said he
was testifying before the HESS Committee in support of HB 431. He
knows the word taxes conjures up a very negative feeling among many
people, but there is a growing movement to use taxes to accomplish
a positive result - to protect children from tobacco addiction.
One of the American Cancer Society's goals for the year 2000 is to
reduce smoking by Alaskan youth. As a private organization, they
provide public education concerning the dangers of smoking, but
they cannot do the job alone. He told committee members that as
elected representatives of the people of Alaska, they could help
with this important task by passing this tax; thereby providing a
powerful incentive to reduce smoking. He pointed out this is not
just another tax. It is a strong public health measure. He
concluded with a quote from former Surgeon General, C. Everett
Koop, "A cigarette tax is different because it helps almost
everyone. Smokers would benefit because it would help them to
quit. Non-smokers would benefit because the air they breathe would
have less harmful smoke. Children would benefit because fewer kids
would get hooked on cigarettes. The only real losers would be the
tobacco industry." He strongly urged committee members to support
the increase in taxes on tobacco.
Number 1083
JENNY MURRAY, Tobacco Policy Coordinator, American Lung Association
of Alaska, testified via teleconference from Anchorage regarding a
survey that was conducted on behalf of the American Cancer Society
to help them assess the level of support among Alaskans for tobacco
taxes. The survey was conducted statewide to assess the support
for an increase of $1.00 a pack. Based on surveys done in the
Lower 48 and in Anchorage in 1994, they expected to see strong
support in the neighborhood of 60 to 65 percent, but it was even
better than that. In a statewide sample, 74 percent of Alaskans
favored increasing Alaska's tobacco taxes by $1.00 per pack.
Because the publicity of the tobacco tax proposal has been mostly
in the context of addressing the state's fiscal gap, the survey
began with questions about the whole issue. For example, the
survey revealed that 74 percent of Alaskans had heard about the
budget gap. The second question on the survey was "Alaska's state
budget is about $500 million larger than the revenues it will take
in this year. Most of this revenue is from oil and gas taxes.
People have different views about how to deal with this fiscal gap.
Do you think the fiscal gap can be closed with a mix of spending
cuts and new revenue sources?" Only 16 percent of the individuals
who responded felt that spending cuts alone would be enough to
close the budget gap. On the other hand, 72 percent indicated it
would take a mix of spending cuts and new revenue sources.
MS. MURRAY further stated that questions were then asked to
determine which of the measures proposed by the Long Range
Financial Planning Commission to close the fiscal gap were most
popular among Alaskans. The survey results indicated that tobacco
taxes were far and away the most popular method of reducing the
budget gap. Another question asked was, "If it was proven that a
large cigarette price increase prevents or reduces smoking among
children and teen-agers, would you favor or oppose raising the
state tax by $1.00 per pack?" Eighty-six percent of those
individuals polled indicated they would favor the tax increase.
She concluded that of course, we are all aware that tobacco taxes
do reduce smoking by kids. The public message is clear that
Alaskans support tobacco taxes, they understand that new revenue is
needed to balance the state budget, and believe in protecting kids
from tobacco. She strongly urged the committee to support HB 431.
Number 1242
ANNE MARIE HOLEN testified via teleconference from Anchorage on
behalf of the Alaska Native Health Board and its statewide
membership in support of HB 431. She said the increase in tobacco
taxes is the number one state legislative priority for the Alaska
Native Health Board this session. Alaska Natives account for over
23 percent of the smoking-related deaths in the state, even though
they make up only 16.5 percent of the population. No one expects
higher taxes to be a panacea for the tobacco problem in rural
Alaska, but the research clearly indicates that it will help. She
pointed out that tobacco is not just a Native problem in Alaska.
A recent Center for Disease Control report reveals that smoking
rates among the white population in Alaska are also above the
national average. The tobacco epidemic is a serious problem in
Alaska; Native and non-Native, smokers and non-smokers, kids and
adults. The Alaska Native Health Board strongly urges the
committee's support for HB 431.
Number 1311
MICHAEL LIVINGSTON testified via teleconference and urged the
committee to pass HB 431 as an effective tool to combat Alaska's
epidemic of teen-age tobacco smokers. During his 16 years as a
police officer in Alaska, he has seen the number of teen smokers
skyrocket. He commented on having seen as many as 300 students at
local high schools standing outside smoking cigarettes on their
lunch break. If we allow the youth to hang around and get addicted
to a legal substance such as tobacco, it becomes easier for them to
get addicted to other illegal substances such as alcohol, marijuana
and harder drugs. There are areas around the high schools known as
smoking pits or smoking tunnels that are hot spots for criminal
activity, including weapons offenses, felony assaults and attempted
homicides. On the other end of the spectrum, Mr. Livingston as a
police officer, has had to respond to deaths caused by tobacco
consumption. Alaska's law enforcement code of ethics states that
his fundamental duty as a police officer is to safeguard lives, to
protect the innocent against deception and the weak against
oppression. He has attempted to fulfill his duty by issuing
citations to minors for possession of tobacco. However, one police
officer issuing one ticket and thousands of teen smokers is like
the little Dutch boy holding his finger in the dye. He asked
committee members to please stop the flood of Alaska children
walking into an early death, to safeguard lives and protect the
innocent against deception by passing HB 431.
Number 1417
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked Mr. Livingston if there are laws currently on
the books that are strong enough, but are not being enforced. She
was aware of the laws that prohibit the sale of tobacco products to
children under the age of 19 and the restrictions on cigarette
machines, but wanted to know if there were other things that could
be done, as a legislative body, to prevent the sale of cigarettes
to children.
MR. LIVINGSTON responded that hundreds of citations have been
issued to minors for the possession of tobacco. He has questioned
about 150 minors himself to determine where they get the tobacco
from. Their response is they walk into a store and buy it; these
are 14- and 15-year-olds walking into stores in Anchorage buying
tobacco with no problem. While the police have issued hundreds of
citations to minors, they have not issued one citation to a
business in Anchorage for the sale of tobacco to minors that Mr.
Livingston is aware of. When he goes into a store in his police
uniform, surprisingly the transaction does not occur. One way for
a police officer to put a stop to the illegal sale of tobacco to
minors would be for the police officer to use youngsters to buy the
tobacco. When the sale is completed, the police officer could then
issue a citation to the business for the illegal sale. He has
asked permission from his police department more than once, but it
is illegal for him to do that. The reason being that he would be
allowing a minor to possess tobacco. Until an exception is made in
Alaska as has been made in many other states, he is forbidden from
doing what he would like to do.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY said it was a shame that police officers' hands are
tied, and will look at other available options.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE remarked there will be another bill that will
address that problem.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON thought these sting operations were being
carried out in Juneau through the Seven Circles. She added the
main idea at this point is not to go after the businesses, but to
educate businesses on what is happening so they will make the
necessary changes.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked Luke Whitehead to present his testimony. The
Anchorage Legislative Information Office advised that Mr. Whitehead
had written testimony that would be submitted to the HESS
Committee.
Number 1575
JUDITH MULLER, Executive Director, Alaska Health Fair; also
Chairman, Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance, testified via
teleconference. She said the Alaska Health Fair works with
villages across the state organizing and planning their grassroots
health education event. There isn't one community in Alaska where
tobacco isn't a big concern. For that reason, Alaska Health Fair
supports the taxation as a way to deal with the tobacco problem.
She said the Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance consists of 220
organizations and agencies who share a strong commitment to
reducing the use of tobacco. The 220 organizations and agencies
represent an organized mass of literally tens of thousands of
Alaskans, including people from every urban community of the state,
most of the Native health corporations, professional health
organizations and nonprofit agencies. This group works daily to
reduce the use of tobacco in Alaska. A recent resolution put forth
by the Alliance last month calls upon the legislature to enact a
significantly higher state excise tax on all forms of tobacco and
to ensure that this higher tax rate is regularly increased to keep
pace with inflation. They agree that taxation is a good way to
reduce the use of tobacco and strongly support this legislation.
Number 1680
DELISA CULPEPPER, Alaska Public Health Association, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage and strongly urged the committee to
support this legislation. She said public health professionals
across the state are working, like the Alaska Tobacco Control
Alliance, to protect kids from tobacco. She referred to a
prevention initiative and said while we have to work on behavioral
aspects with individuals, an environment that allows children to
have financial access to cigarettes is a poor environment to try to
prevent them from beginning to use tobacco. Financial strategies
are important and the Alaska Public Health Association believes
they can work well.
Number 1730
DR. RODMAN WILSON, Acting Executive Director, Alaska State Medical
Association, testified from Anchorage. He said the Alaska State
Medical Association strongly supports HB 431. During the mid-80s
when he was working in the Municipality of Anchorage Health
Department, he studied all deaths in Anchorage. He analyzed the
contribution of tobacco to those deaths and calculated that 713, or
21 percent, of the 3,435 deaths were caused by tobacco. He
mentioned the state Department of Health, Section of Epidemiology
did a similar study statewide for the period of 1992 to 1994 and
came up with a similar result of 20 percent. Dr. Wilson said this
is an opportunity for the legislature to do something significant
with respect to the health hazards of cigarettes and other forms of
tobacco. In conclusion, Dr. Wilson said in the next century when
somebody writes the social and commercial history of the United
States, one of the blackest pages is going to be that when we began
to know by mid-century how dangerous tobacco was, we did so little
about it.
Number 1901
RUTH PARRIOTT, Representative, Tobacco Tax Policy Project, American
Cancer Society, also testified on behalf of the full coalition of
heart, lung and Native health boards. She said a number of years
ago, the American Cancer Society was wondering what they were doing
talking about increasing taxes and how they found themselves in
that position. All of the collective research led them to one
inevitable conclusion: It is their mission to reduce the suffering
that results from cancer. Research indicates the single most
effective way to do that is to prevent children from starting in
the first place and the single most effective way of doing that is
to apply economic disincentives. She noted the fiscal and tax
policy debates currently taking place and said there are some
individuals who believe that tobacco is a matter of free choice and
shouldn't be used in fiscal policy debates and other state
legislation to influence behavior and choices of individuals. She
said a part of us buys into that. Like many Americans, we believe
the ultimate responsibility for protecting our children takes place
in the homes where parents share their lessons with children, and
in the support of community-based schools and churches. In support
of that, the American Cancer Society has been providing all of the
information and support to those institutions for decades.
However, when those children walk outside the doors and are
bombarded by a $6 billion a year advertising campaign from the
tobacco industry which tells the kids that smoking is cool, then it
becomes time to change that larger environment in any way we can.
MS. PARRIOTT stated the tobacco industry will tell you this is bad
fiscal policy. She told committee members that a Washington, D.C.
firm has been hired by the industry to tell you that your
Department of Revenue doesn't know what they are talking about;
they've apparently over-estimated the revenues that will be gained.
However, in doing so, apparently the Surgeon General doesn't know
what he is talking about either because the department relied on 30
years of economic data from the Surgeon General's Office to
determine a price elasticity. She urged committee members to
listen to the arguments made by the industry as the debate unfolds.
The first thing they will tell you is that it won't generate this
much revenue because the department is over-estimating. The second
thing will be that this doesn't work. She said the industry's own
charts indicate there is a -.4 elasticity; that means every time
tobacco prices are raised by 10 percent, 4 percent of sales are
going to drop off. That's what the industry is worried about, no
matter what they tell you. By taking this health measure, fewer
cigarettes will be sold in the state of Alaska. That means the
tobacco industry will make less money in the state. Ms. Parriott
concluded by saying we acknowledge that, but we believe the health
of Alaskans is more paramount than the profits of the tobacco
industry.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked if there was any further public testimony.
Hearing none, public testimony was closed.
CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked to make a closing statement. He, like
probably a lot of other people, wished this proposed tax would not
raise a nickel. But that is unrealistic.
TAPE 96-6, SIDE A
Number 007
CO-CHAIR BUNDE continued that one of his favorite musicians, Willie
Nelson, said that he has tried them all, referring to illegal
substances, and the toughest of all to quit was cigarettes. He
said that no legislator ever looks lightly at taxing the citizens
and no constituency is anxious to be taxed. The surveys however,
indicate the public feel this is an appropriate measure and he
simply would like for the legislature to put aside their concerns
about taxation and look at it as an economic barrier to young
people.
Number 101
CO-CHAIR BUNDE made a motion to pass HB 431 from the HESS Committee
with accompanying fiscal notes and individual recommendations.
Number 117
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON thanked the sponsor for what she perceived
to be one of the most important aspects of this bill; the public
education that will take place. She would like to perhaps have
another opportunity to discuss other things that could be done to
get more public education. One of the areas she is personally
concerned about is the area of finding a smoke free environment for
people who are trying to move away from an addiction. For example,
AA meetings that are non-smoking, counselors who don't smoke in
counseling sessions, etc. She commented she is not out to ban
smoking because she doesn't think it works; but she is working
toward public education and trying to get people to make that
decision for themself. She would also like the committee to
consider putting some of the beginning revenues into the Children's
Trust. She recognized that a fund couldn't be dedicated, but felt
they could make a strong statement that a portion of this money
should be appropriated into the Children's Trust.
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY pointed out that as a person who started smoking at
the age of either 14 or 15, she ended up smoking three packs of
cigarettes a day and loved every cigarette she smoked. She quit 13
years ago. For those people who testified before the committee who
stated it was difficult to quit, she said it is not difficult to
quit; a person only needs to make up their mind that they are going
to stop. It's like any other addiction, you can stop. Her advice
is to have someone who has also quit help you get through the first
few days. It can be done, so don't be discouraged by people saying
it's impossible to quit.
Number 371
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked if there was any objection to the motion to
pass HB 431 out of committee. Hearing none, HB 431 passed out of
the House HESS Committee with accompanying fiscal notes and
individual recommendations.
ADJOURNMENT
CO-CHAIR TOOHEY adjourned the meeting of the House HESS Committee
at 4:44 p.m.
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