Congratulations to the Great State of Indiana.

May 11, 2007 -  On February 27, 2007 the SNUS Newsbrief read "Shame on Indiana" for rejecting Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposal to increase cigarette taxes. Governor Mitch Daniels on Thursday (5/10/2007) signed into law legislation that will help provide health insurance to uninsured Hoosiers. The measure will increase the cigarette tax by $0.44 per pack (to a $1/pack) in order to fund several new initiatives, including a healthcare plan for low-income residents, funding for small businesses to offer health benefits, childhood immunizations and smoking cessation programs. The new coverage will begin January 1, 2008. The plan is estimated to discourage 40,000 fewer youth smokers and 23,400 fewer adult smokers. Thirty-three cents of the increase will be used to provide more needed childhood immunizations, the healthcare plan for low-income Hoosiers, smoking cessation programs, and help for small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees; 3 cents for increased Medicaid provider reimbursement rates, 5 cents for other health initiatives, and 3 cents for Section 125 plans (a plan that allows employers and employees to purchase health insurance on a pre-tax basis). (Governor Signs Healthy Indiana Bill, InsideIndianaBusiness.com)