Anti-tobacco advocates say they have one way to help the state solve its budget crisis and help prevent smoking: raise the tobacco tax in the state by $1 a pack.
The idea could bring in $29.7 million in the first year.
Although a bill has yet to be introduced this session to raise the tax, there already is public support.
A survey released Thursday by the
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids found that 76 percent of the registered voters polled support a proposal to raise the tax by $1. Seventy-nine percent supported an increase of 60 cents per pack.
Fifty-seven percent of smokers surveyed said they would support the $1 increase. The current tax per pack is 91 cents.
The survey by Research and Polling Inc. also showed that 64 percent of those support raising the cigarette tax as a way to deal with the state's projected $450 million shortfall this year. That amount had the highest support among other ideas that included increasing vehicle registration fees or gas or property taxes, or decreasing funding to state schools and health care programs.
The survey questioned a random sample of 500 likely
New Mexico voters earlier this month.
Anti-tobacco advocates say smoking contributes to millions of dollars in public health spending that could be saved or spent elsewhere.
"This survey shows you that the public is very much in tune with not only the problems, but the potential solutions," said Nathan Bush, vice president for government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
The money generated by the tax could go to the state's general fund, or to smoking cessation, education or health care programs, depending on how a proposal is crafted. That additional revenue in other years might have gone mostly to expand tobacco-related programs, observers said.
Bush said a proposal to raise the tax won't make everyone happy.
"This is a big bill that will cause big heartburn for the tobacco industry lobby. For that reason, lawmakers are taking this proposal very seriously and are having the necessary conversations before moving forward with one or more tobacco tax bills," he said. "I can say we are doing our part to supply the right people with all the right information to help them make an informed decision about who will sponsor."
While it's still early in the session to know all the tobacco-related measures that will be introduced, one bill already would prohibit smoking in cars where a minor is present. The measure, SB 44, amends the Dee Johnson Clear Indoor Air Act. That act is something that advocates like Bush will fight to protect from any proposed changes to weaken it this session.
The clean air law now carries a penalty of $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second violation and a fine not to exceed $500 for the third and subsequent violations within a year.
Debates on tobacco topics are nothing new at legislatures across the country. Neither are campaign contributions from tobacco companies.
Tobacco companies between 2005 and 2006 gave almost $96 million to state-level candidates, committees and ballot measures across the country, according to a study by the National Institute on State Politics.
Contributions in New Mexico equaled $113,550 for those years. Top donations in 2006 included a $15,500 contribution by Altria to Gov. Bill Richardson and $7,000 to Lt. Gov. Diane Denish by the company, which owns Philip Morris USA Inc. and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee received $4,300 while Attorney General Gary King also received $4,000.
In 2008, records show Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, received $2,250 from Altria while House Speaker Ben Luján D-Nambé, got $1,500 and Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Española, got $1,250. Others in leadership positions received smaller donations.
Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.
