Cigarette tax proposed

A $1 per pack cigarette tax is on the table as a way to fund colorectal cancer prevention and women’s heart health programs, but some don’t think it goes far enough.

“What do you think if I amend (the bill) to $5 a pack? Or ban it?” asked Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) during an April 15 House Taxes Committee hearing.

“I wouldn’t support that if you tried to amend the bill in that way,” said Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul), sponsor of HF2194. “I’ve never been a proponent of banning tobacco use, and I think $5 is too steep of an increase.”

The bill was laid over for possible omnibus tax bill inclusion. A companion, SF1990, sponsored by Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls), awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.

Murphy’s bill would add $1 per pack on top of the federal cigarette tax of 62 cents that went into effect April 1. Four years ago, a state 75-cent per pack health impact fee was imposed.

Money from the proposed tax would be deposited into the health care access fund and appropriated for the colorectal cancer prevention and women’s heart health programs.

Health care costs are rising faster than any other area of the state budget, Murphy said, adding that this legislation would provide money for two problems with a predictable and stable revenue source.

“I think what you’re trying to do is so important,” said Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove). But he added that the state would likely lose revenue because many people would probably go out of state to buy cigarettes.

Dr. Marc Manley, vice president and medical director of population health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, said the company calculated that diseases caused by tobacco cost the state $2 billion and kill 5,600 Minnesotans every year.

“Passing a tax on cigarettes is one of the best proven strategies we have at our disposal because it not only helps people quit smoking, but also prevents youth from ever starting,” he said.

Richard Bohnen, a convenience store owner from Bloomington, said he was discouraged by members using the word “ban.”

“Banning cigarettes, I mean, wow. I didn’t think we’d ever come to that step,” he said. “Cancer and other diseases are always gonna be there. I can get skin cancer from sun-tanning, I mean, where does it end?”