Fighting the Tobacco Epidemic

By Governor Bob Wise

January 30, 2004

A deadly poison is killing West Virginians each day. In the forms of cancer, emphysema and asthma, tobacco-related illnesses and deaths account for a mammoth proportion of the health problems in this state.

Adults, most of whom started smoking at an early age because of advertising directed to youth, may engage in this addictive habit; increasing the tax on tobacco products will contribute to paying for the great cost tobacco generates for our health care system. I have proposed adding one penny of tax to the price of each cigarette. This will not come close to making up for the staggering economic damage tobacco use causes, but it will allow us to not cut $120 million from our Medicaid budget.

We must make sure that today's young people do not become tomorrow's lifelong tobacco users. By increasing the price, we will discourage children from ever getting caught in the trap of nicotine addiction.

Other states are joining us in the fight against Big Tobacco. Ohio and Pennsylvania have recently raised their tobacco tax. We cannot let the tobacco industry lobbyists win; they would have us fail to pass this increase that will preserve the health of our citizens. That would be wrong, irresponsible and bordering on immoral. Instead, we will stand on the side of West Virginia's children, seniors and working families, all of whom pay a high cost because of the tobacco use of the past and the present.

Just as we require companies to pay for environmental damage, we demand that smokers begin to take financial responsibility for their actions. To those who complain that the price of their cigarettes is again rising, I say only this: quit now. We will dedicate 25 percent of the proceeds from this increase to our tobacco cessation programs; take advantage of them. You will be doing a great favor to yourself, your loved ones and your community.

Cutting funds from our health care budget would take away prescription drug benefits, senior health programs and other crucial components of our system. Furthermore, it would cause the loss of thousands of health care jobs.

The budget realities imposed by tobacco's damage are significant and growing. This measure will address the financial toll tobacco continues to take on West Virginia's taxpayers. More important, we can begin to make a difference in our future by discouraging young Mountaineers from taking up this deadly habit.