2009 Legislature: Survey shows majority support proposed $1-per-pack increase
Jump to full article: Santa Fe (NM) New Mexican, 2009-01-22
Author: Kate Nash * The New Mexican
Intro: 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
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