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Doyle Says He's 'Reluctant' to Hike Cigarette Tax
Governor Said He'll Consider Tax Increase If Money Goes to Prevention
UPDATED: 10:04 am CST December 19,
2006
MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle said that he must be assured millions raised in a potential cigarette tax hike would help to prevent people from smoking, get others to quit or pay for smoking-related health care before he'd back the idea.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDoyle told WISC-TV in an interview at the Executive Residence that he's "open to the idea," but not if the money is going to be used to fill a budget hole or for any legislator's pet project."I'm pretty reluctant to go in a direction where we raise money to fight smoking and then take the money and don't use it for that purpose," Doyle said.Doyle, who was formerly the state's attorney general, said that he felt "burned" when he won a $6-billion lawsuit against tobacco companies several years ago only to see the money used in one lump sum payment to fill a budget hole.However, at the same time, Doyle said that he plans to expand a state-run health care program in the next budget and he'll need cash to accomplish it. As part of the proposal, Doyle said that he wants to cover all children, start an insurance pool for small businesses for catastrophic care and make a basic, simple, affordable care plan available to everyone, WISC-TV reported."Frankly, in this world or in this country right now, if you don't have underage kids, you aren't eligible for anything," said Doyle.Proponents for raising the cigarette tax said the measure would bring much-need revenue to state coffers. The state's current tax of 77 cents per pack puts it 30th in the nation among all the states. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said that raising the tax by $1 a pack would raise almost $227.5 million a year for the state. They added that the higher costs might push some smokers to drop the habit."There is truth to that, but the other sense of it is, is it really fair to take people who are addicted to tobacco and make them be the ones to pay all of these costs," said Doyle."If there's really a way to ensure that that's what the money goes for and that's what it goes for forever, then I'm open to this," he said. "But if it's just a way to get a bunch of money to get spent on whatever somebody's pet project is, then I'm not."Doyle will present his budget to lawmakers in February.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDoyle told WISC-TV in an interview at the Executive Residence that he's "open to the idea," but not if the money is going to be used to fill a budget hole or for any legislator's pet project."I'm pretty reluctant to go in a direction where we raise money to fight smoking and then take the money and don't use it for that purpose," Doyle said.Doyle, who was formerly the state's attorney general, said that he felt "burned" when he won a $6-billion lawsuit against tobacco companies several years ago only to see the money used in one lump sum payment to fill a budget hole.However, at the same time, Doyle said that he plans to expand a state-run health care program in the next budget and he'll need cash to accomplish it. As part of the proposal, Doyle said that he wants to cover all children, start an insurance pool for small businesses for catastrophic care and make a basic, simple, affordable care plan available to everyone, WISC-TV reported."Frankly, in this world or in this country right now, if you don't have underage kids, you aren't eligible for anything," said Doyle.Proponents for raising the cigarette tax said the measure would bring much-need revenue to state coffers. The state's current tax of 77 cents per pack puts it 30th in the nation among all the states. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said that raising the tax by $1 a pack would raise almost $227.5 million a year for the state. They added that the higher costs might push some smokers to drop the habit."There is truth to that, but the other sense of it is, is it really fair to take people who are addicted to tobacco and make them be the ones to pay all of these costs," said Doyle."If there's really a way to ensure that that's what the money goes for and that's what it goes for forever, then I'm open to this," he said. "But if it's just a way to get a bunch of money to get spent on whatever somebody's pet project is, then I'm not."Doyle will present his budget to lawmakers in February.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
