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Summary:
- Ohio GOP blocks proposed $1.50 cigarette tax increase.
- Advocates argue higher taxes would deter smoking and fund cancer prevention.
- Lawmakers cite personal freedom and declining tax revenue as reasons for rejection.
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Despite emotional appeals from families affected by cancer, Ohio lawmakers have rejected a proposed increase in the state’s cigarette tax. The measure, championed by Governor Mike DeWine, aimed to raise the tax by $1.50 per pack to discourage smoking, increase funding for tobacco prevention, and support a $1,000 child tax credit.
For Vince Marchetta of Akron, the fight is personal. His wife, Betsy, lost her battle with cervical cancer in 2019, leaving their two children without a mother. Now, he serves as Ohio’s lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society, advocating for policies that could prevent future tragedies.
“It put me in a position to be a voice for her and for all the other people that aren’t able to speak up,” Marchetta said.
Teen advocates, including Marianna Packer, also voiced their support, emphasizing that a higher tax would make cigarettes less accessible to young people.
“The tax increase would make it less likely for kids to buy it because it’s so expensive,” Packer said.
GOP Lawmakers Oppose Tax Hike
Republican legislators dismissed the proposal, arguing that cigarettes are already taxed heavily and that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices.
“Republicans don’t like to raise taxes,” said House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville). “Cigarettes and tobacco products are already pretty darn expensive and pretty heavily taxed.”
Currently, Ohio taxes cigarettes at $1.60 per pack. The increase would have raised that to $3.10 per pack—an amount GOP leaders say is excessive.
Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) warned that increasing the tax could backfire by further reducing cigarette sales, which have already been declining for years.
“If the cigarette tax were increased even more above what it is, it’s probably going to be an even more rapidly declining source of revenue,” McColley said.
What’s Next?
Despite the setback, advocates like Marchetta remain committed to their cause.
“If what we do saves one person’s life, we’re advancing our cause,” he said.
While lawmakers have rejected the tax hike for now, discussions on the proposal are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
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