The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says the federal tax increase “would prevent more than 900,000 smoking-related deaths and deter nearly 1.9 million U.S. children from becoming lifelong tobacco users.”
Reference: Kaine plan for budget could curb smoking by Tyler Whitley, Media General News Service, NewsVirginian.com, 1/25/2009.
Archive of Supporting Documentation: NATO - reauthorize SCHIP without imposing tax increases on tobacco products..; U.S. Senate Committee Votes to Expand SCHIP..; SCHIP Expansion approved by U.S. House of Representatives..; U.S. Congress gets ready to pass expansion of SCHIP..;
SCHIP expansion legislation time to try again..;
Congressional Democrats have scrapped plans for another vote on expansion of the SCHIP..
AWMA urges grassroots effort to defeat FDA tobacco regulation and SCHIP..
U.S. Federal tax increase on tobacco - try it again..
U.S. House fails to override SCHIP expansion veto..
Congress Sends An Extension of the SCHIP to President Bush..
Bush vetoes 2nd bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)...
Revised State Children's Health Insurance (S-CHIP) Bill..
Bush's SCHIP veto stands..
U.S. CONGRESS PASSES CHILDREN'S COVERAGE..
US edges closer to federal tax hike on tobacco products...
Lawmakers in Washington are working to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) before it expires on September 30, 2007...
Read more...
SCHIP federal tobacco tax increase will deter nearly 1.9 million kids from using tobacco..
Virginia - cigarette sales declined after tax hikes..
January 26, 2009 - As Gov. Timothy M. Kaine seeks to double the state’s tax to 60 cents on cigarettes to get more money for health care, state statistics show that cigarette sales declined after the previous two rounds of tax increases. Cigarette packs sold in Virginia in fiscal years 2004-2007 decreased from 719.6 million in 2004 to 617 million in 2005 to 597 million in 2006 and to 581 million in 2007. The state tax on a pack of cigarettes went from 2.5 cents a pack to 20 cents a pack on Sept. 1, 2004, as part of then-Gov. Mark R. Warner’s $1.4 billion tax increase. It then went to 30 cents a pack on July 1, 2005.
Del. Harry R. Purkey, R-Virginia Beach, chairman of the House Finance Committee, says the panel likely will take up Kaine’s proposed tax increase this week. He rated its chances as iffy. While he hasn’t polled the committee’s members, Purkey said, “I think it has a difficult chance of passing. It has some supporters, but there is an awful lot of opposition from the public as well as the business community.”
Altria and its Philip Morris Tobacco subsidiary, one of the area’s largest employers, oppose the increase. “We think it’s unfair to single out one industry to bear the tax burden, particularly here in Virginia where Altria is a major employer,” Phelps said. Altria and Philip Morris employ more than 5,000 people, most in the Richmond area.
According to an internal study prepared for Altria, states approved 57 excise tax increases between fiscal year 2003 and fiscal 2007. Only in 16 cases did the states’ tax revenues meet projections.
Related news briefs: Virginia Governor Kaine Proposes a 30 cent tax increase in cigarette tax...
Reference: Kaine plan for budget could curb smoking by Tyler Whitley, Media General News Service, NewsVirginian.com, 1/25/2009.
Read more...
Alberta - smoking rate at an all time low..
New provincial legislation --including the January 1, 2008, ban on smoking in all bars across Alberta-- is part of the reason for that decline, according to Les Hagen of Action on Smoking and Health. Calgary had already implemented a ban on smoking in bars the year before.
Officials hope those numbers will continue to drop as more aspects of the Tobacco Reduction Strategy are implemented, such as the January 1, 2009, requirement that pharmacies and grocery stores where pharmaceuticals are sold are no longer allowed to sell cigarettes. Tobacco sales are also banned at hospitals, universities and colleges.
Youths are the largest consumers of flavoured cigarillos, which are packaged in single tubes, said Canadian Cancer Society spokes-woman Angeline Webb.
The organization is calling for a ban on flavoured tobaccos, backing a private member's bill expected to be raised during the spring session by Calgary-Egmont MLA Jonathan Denis.
The rate of Alberta youths smoking is "worrisome," Webb said, noting that this province has the second-highest rate in Canada, after Saskatchewan.
Reference: Anti-tobacco initiatives cut smoking rate to new low, Gwendolyn Richards, Calgary Herald, 1/23/2009.
Related news briefs: Alberta - tobacco banned in pharmacies and grocery stores..; Alberta tobacco reduction strategy is working..; Smoking rampant among pregnant women in Alberta..;
Conflict Exists With the Acceptance of Tobacco Industry Money..;
duMaurier SNUS - Comments Regarding Smokeless Tobacco from Dave Hancock, Minister of Health & Wellness, Province of Alberta, Canada..; duMaurier SNUS - Edmonton, Alberta - Imperial Tobacco Canada..; We need more tobacco like a hole in the head - the world does not need: smokeless, chewless and spitless tobacco.;
Tighten restrictions on all tobacco advertising..
Read more...
Indonesia - Ulema Council - debate results is split on smoking..
The debate over smoking revealed a split between those wanting to make it 'Haram," or not allowed, and others who favor a "makruh," an Arabic term whereby it would only be advised that smoking is bad and it is better to drop it.
Officially secular, Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, accounting for roughly 85 percent of the country's 226 million people. Indonesia is the world's No. 5 tobacco market and at around one dollar (73 pence) a pack, cigarettes are among the cheapest in the world.
Members of Kudus Community had already agreed to reject MUI's guidance on smoking.
Kudus is a regency (Indonesian: kabupaten) in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Kudus, located in the east of Semarang, capital of Central Java.
Kudus is considered the "birthplace" of the kretek clove cigarette, which is by far the most widely-smoked form of tobacco in the country. Haji Jamahri, a resident of the city, invented them in the 1880s, and the city remains a major center for their manufacture.
Reference:
Indonesia Islamic body to mull ban on smoking, yoga by Olivia Rondonuwu, Reuter, 1/23/2009; Islamic body opts not to ban smoking in Indonesia by By Olivia Rondonuwu, Reuter = Forbes.com, 1/25/2009.
Related news briefs: In Process - Indonesia - Withdraw Sponsorhip of Another Rock Concert..; Indonesia to increase tax on tobacco products..; Semarang, Indonesia - Cigarette Smoking Areas to be Prepared..; Jakarta, Indonesia - Malls help enforce non-smoking ban..; Indonesia - federal anti-smoking laws in one year - MAYBE..; Indonesia - NGO's (non-government organizations) Demand the Government Ratify WHO's FCTC.; Indonesia to raise cigarette tax by 6 to 7% in 2009..; Surabaya, Indonesia - anti-smoking bylaw 10/2009 - FOR REAL??; Indonesians smoking more than ever before..; Indonesia further rise in the excise tax would hurt the cigarette industry..; Alicia Keys - Jakarta Concert (July 31st) tobacco companies forced to withdraw sponsorship.. and Most Indonesians support moves to ban tobacco advertisements...
Read more...
U.S.A. Fire-Safe Cigarettes for All 50 States - NOW..
U.S. Fire Administration, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers die annually in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking products. Going to fire-safe cigarettes will save lives and prevent injuries and devastation from cigarette-ignited fires. Everyday people continue to die from fires caused by tobacco smoking.
By the end of 2009, 14 states will join the 18 that already require vendors to purchase and sell only the fire-safe cigarettes - that will make 32. Why do we have to wait for each state to go through the long drawn out process of passing legislation and then waiting many months for the law to be enacted. We only have to convince one corporate giant - the biggest cigarette maker in the U.S.A. - Philip Morris USA, Inc.
Altria Group, Inc. , the parent of Philip Morris has tried hard to convince people they are credible and are a good corporate citizen. But lately certain corporate decisions have been questioned such as in October 2008, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Philip Morris marketed Virginia Slims with a slender "purse pack" in the same color of soft pink associated with the cancer campaign. Here's a chance for Altria Group to redeem themselves and re-establish their good citizenship.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco has stated that it will start making all of its cigarettes fire-safe by the end of 2009. Reynolds makes up around 30% - one out if every three cigarettes of the domestic cigarette market. (NFPA applauds Reynolds American Inc. announcement of product-wide switch to “fire-safe” cigarettes Urges other tobacco companies to follow, National Fire Protection Assoc. 10/25/2007)
Liggett Group (with around two percent of the domestic market), announced on March 25, 2008 that it will convert all of its domestic (US) cigarette production standards to meet all state fire safety standards by January 2009. Now if Philip Morris, with over 50% of the domestic cigarette market would agree to start making all of its cigarettes fire-safe all other cigarette makers like Lorillard (with around 10 percent of the cigarette market) would join in.
Just think: then every state in the union would only sell fire-safe cigarettes.
Some related news briefs: USA States Self-extinguishing Cigarettes Becoming the Norm..; Dummies - Citizens Against Fire Safe Cigarettes..; Cigarettes “fire safe” in Minnesota as of December 1, 2008..; Fire - Safe Cigarettes for all 50 states - NOW.. and Switzerland could join EU requiring sale of only self-extinguishing cigarettes..
News on fire-safe cigarettes..
Read more...
To Provide Public Awareness
Purpose
About Us
Contact Us
2008 HIGHLIGHTS
TOPIX PAPERS - 2008 & 2009..