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Elkhart The Truth Editorial

Published: Thursday, October 12, 2006 -- The Truth, A4 Last updated: 10/11/2006 8:09:44 PM

This is part of a series of editorials on issues facing the candidates running in the Nov. 7 election.

Indiana has the second-highest rate of adult smokers in the country at 27 percent, yet instead of increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs that were working to reduce that number, the state cut funding by almost 70 percent in 2004. After that, the number of smokers actually increased by 2 percent.

The U.S. surgeon general recently released a highly publicized report that said there were no safe levels of second-hand smoke and that there is "overwhelming scientific evidence" that second-hand smoke causes heart disease, lung cancer and other illnesses. Tens of thousands of people die each year as a result, the study found.

That's why state officials must do everything they can to tackle one of the biggest health care problems facing Hoosiers.

One way to address the smoking problem is to levy higher cigarette taxes. Gov. Mitch Daniels proposed a 25-cent-per-pack increase in the tax during the last Legislature, but it went nowhere.

Indiana's 55-cents-per-pack tax is the lowest in the Midwest and the 37th lowest in the nation. Michigan's tax is $2 per pack; Ohio's, $1.25; and Illinois', 98 cents.

Statistics show that raising the tax does discourage smoking. (Incidentally, Kentucky's rate is 30 cents per pack and the Bluegrass State has the highest adult smoking rate in the country.)

Daniels plans to make a cigarette tax increase a legislative priority next year. We agree with him, as long as the revenue collected -- as much as $206.5 million with a 50-cent-per-pack increase or $150 million with a 25-cent-per-pack increase -- is targeted toward health programs in the state. It would be even better if the money went specifically for smoking-related programs.

When considering an increase, Indiana's rate should be closer to its Midwest counterparts -- maybe not as high as Michigan, but closer to the national average of 96 cents.

Passing a cigarette tax should be easy, in theory, if you consider legislative leaders in both parties have identified health care as a priority in the next session. However, they are balking at any tax increases. That's unfortunate and short-sighted, especially when you consider the number of cities and towns across Indiana that have passed smoking bans in public places.

Even if we don't smoke and do our best to avoid second-hand smoke, we are all indirectly affected by smokers through increased costs of health care services and insurance.

We urge members of the Indiana General Assembly to pass a reasonable and targeted cigarette tax increase in the next session.

You'll see the legislative candidates' responses to a possible cigarette tax increase coming in our election package later in the month.