A SAMPLING OF YOUR RESPONSES:
Yes! An absolute necessity, and it even has the potential to act a a deterrent to our younger people smoking!
Bob Siebel, Hurricane
I am not a smoker but i don't agree with the increase. All the government wants to do is tax us to death on everything. Next thing you know they'll be taxing us to breathe.
Mer, Charleston
e should of taken the 20 million and helped the ones of us who are addicted to cigarettes.
John Shue, Cross Lanes
I think if he is going to raise the cigarette tax that he should raise the taxes on alcohol & all these fast food restaurants. That is descrimination, and i think those who drink & are obese should have to pay the price too. Their health problems are just as costly as those who smoke. I use to be a smoker, but i quit over a year ago, but i still feel like smokers are being picked on. Even through the state insurance, they keep raising insurance premiums for those who are smokers. That is truly unfair!!
Tina Crouse, Charleston
Yes, but the revenue should be used to offset medical costs associated with smoking, not to increase government spending in general.
Mark Reid, Charleston
I agree with the Health Groups.
Sheila Ganoe, Tornado
I feel that since WV has a high ranking of percentage of people smoking, then that would be a good way to aquire more revivue.
Randy Estep, Scott Depot
Why should taxes on cigarettes,when they are already so high.They should raise the taxes on suff chewing tobacco,etc.They have yet to set and raise taxes on those products.None seems to raise the issue of their enormous sells or let alone their extrme dangers and risks.Or how about raising taxeson alcohol.That in my thoughts would be the best way to make the most money.So many people get killed every year beause of alochol.But it seems more people seem to worry about taxing cigarette smokers who volantarly kill theirselves.Maybe if they start raising this issu and making it harder on those who drink,we could make our roads safer and save alot more lives in the process.Let alone alot more families exspecially children in the homes of those who drink.Let alone our road ways.
Joya W., Leon
They got plenty of money anyway. They don't need to raise cigarette tax any more an i am shore that there are plenty of people that agree with me
Kim Blevins, Hometown
i recently moved here from ohio and i think wv is higher on alot of things here i live on a fixed income and i dont think its fair to raise the price of cig .when we already pay for alot of extra things here. And they say wv is a better place to live but you get are money every which way can and thats not fair. you tax are cars ,food,homes,and even personal items.
Teresa Adkins, Uneeda
i think if he is going to raised taxes on cigarettes he should raised taxes on ALL ALCOHOL PROCUCT AND WINE but i think it might back fire on him a lot of people i know will stop before paying that tax.
Kathy, Elkview
Dont smokers have any rights
David, South Charleston
Why is it always tax cigarettes. Is there some reason gov.never raises tax on all the alcohol sold in the state. It may even keep some of the drunks off the roads. More people drink than smoke.
D.Nelson, Madison
I think coninuously increasing the taxes on cigarettes is the best incentive to get people to stop smoking. Let the State collect all the money they can now from this source because it won't be long until our government representatives will be forced to sniff out other taxworthy sources... That is, if they still have noses to sniff with. I suggest a survey to find out just how much a smoker would be willing to pay for a pack of cigarettes.
Susan Mace, St. Albans
This in the long run will hurt the state, because it will lose the money that they already get ,because people will just go into neighboring states and buy their cigarettes.
Elizabeth J. Thornton, Gallipolis Ferry
I am not a smoker. But I think that we can raise taxes on something besides the tobacco all the time. Why can't we raise the taxes on alchol or something else besides the poor tabacco everytime.
Tammy Thayer, West Virginia
Yes, I think it should be raised to 55 cents, up to $1.17 or even higher , I also think he should tax alchohol the same way.
Darrell, Alum Creek
If they need to raise taxes raise a tax that targets everyone ,they have taxed industry out of state now lets tax smokers out of state. West Virginias greatest export is its people you cant go any where in the US and not find someone that says i was born in WV.
C Johnson, Chas.
They tax the cigarette industry enough. Why doesn't he propose an increase on the real danger to society alcohol. I am a soldier who smokes and I know the tobacco industry brings in alot of money to the area. People need to stop doing what ever is popular for the moment, and start thinking about other real issues. Cut some of the incomes for all the politicians. It is obvious they make alot of money. Why else would so many people want to have their jobs? Please, DO NOT tell me it is to serve the general public.
SSG Chuck Adams, U.S. Army, Shape, Belgium
Yes, I think it should be raised - there are many health related problems from smoking and the health insurance keeps rising that I believe with all of the information available that proves that smoking is detrimental to your health, the smokers should be the ones to pay for the hazards of smoking if that is what they choose to do.
Jane Holovic, Alum Creek
If Gov. Wise knew that WV needed such a large sum of monies why did the legislature not change the blood alchol level to begin with. If they had done this in the begining and not lost so much federal funds then we would not be in as bad finicial shape as we are now and he would not have to be worrying about raising the cigeratte tax to begin with.
Starlett Conner, S. Charleston
I think the government is doing smokers wrong. they won't stop cigarette companies from adding the chemicals that keep smokers hooked and they wont outlaw cigarettes and so the government uses the addiction to make money from its people. once again the people are getting the dirty end of the stick. i love my country, but i dont agree with the people in the offices. rite now they attack smokers. who is next? the soda drinkers? the candy eaters? or maybe the oxygen breathers. if the government could figure out how to tax the air we breath they would do it. i say leave the cigarettes alone and let the smokers enjoy the freedom the constitution says they have. i don't smoke and i have that right not to and the smokers should have that right to smoke if they choose too
William Rowe, Welch
Hell, why not raise it a $1.00
Bob, Charleston
Absolutely. Given that education about the health risks of smoking and consideration for the effects of second-hand smoke on others (particularly the children of smokers) have not convinced many smokers to quit, perhaps hitting them in the pocketbook will.
Brian Sullivan, Huntington, WV
Everyone should be taxed
T R Wyre, Summersville
I believe there are other health risks as bad or worse than cigarettes. Like alcohol, ATVs and I could think of a whole lot more. Cigarettes have been taxed to death.
Carolyn Mitchell, Sandyville
I am sick and tired of all the cigarette tax hikes. the health companies say because of smokers it costs them so much more, well maybe so, I think it's about time for the beer drinkers that cause the accidents that mame, cripple and kill people to start paying their debt to the health insurance companies. It should'nt be up to the smokers to pay it all...What does it cost these companies to care for a child that was hit by a drunk driver and now has to be cared for 24/7 by a professional medical staff for the rest of the childs life, which could be 50-60 years or more? People with cancer don't live nearly that long. It's time to raise the tax on something else, starting with the beer & liquor. Do you people not realize that you are driving the average paid smoker to either stealing, or driving out of state to support their habits, therefore this state is losing money not gaining from a tax increase. One more thing, I smoke rather heavily, would like to quit but, quess what, my insurance won't cover STOP SMOKING AIDS, go figure.
Robin Foster, Charleston
I don't think smokers should have to be the only ones to pay . Tax gas or something everybody uses like food. That way everybody pays
John Prochnow, Hurricane
They need a law to prohibit the sales of tobacco covering the whole USA. Not more taxes that is greed.
cloyd thorn, parkersburg
If the tax is raised, people will go out of state to purchase their cigarettes and it will mean that much less for the state of WV.
Laureda Collier, Logan
I am a smoker and I think it is silly to try to tax them again. Why can't they tax something like beer.
Christel Toler, Sissonville
Higher the taxes, hopefully less buyers.
Margaret Rice, Jeffrey
I dont think thay shoulds play on someones addiction!
Tessa Neal, Walton
TAX,TAX,TAX thats WV. so if were going to tax cigarettes for 60 million dollars, lets drop the food tax? or some other tax? West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the country? And the states wants to take away 60 million dollars from its residents? Looking at it that way puts a different spin on things? Know matter what the state TAXES all it does is take money from the hard working families of West Virginia. Heres a new slogan for WV. Cigarettes are bad for our states health, but we generate 60 million dollars off of our states tobacco users,so dont quit an pay for some doctors insurance. This tax dosn't fix any problems with doctors, its just temporary fix. The state needs to help the doctors, but not with a new tax on the states citizens.
M. Thomas
the more taxes the less smoking that will be done.i smoked for 25 years 2 packs a day seven days a week.until feb.3,1996 when at the age of 39 i woke up to a heart attack.i wound up in c.a.m.c.mem.div.i had to have emergency open heart surgery and had 5 by-passes mainly due to smoking.my doctors told me to stop smoking or die.i quit smoking so can you.
Larry A.Nutter, Oak Hill
also raise taxes on drinking alcohol.
Laura Sypolt, St. Albans
I believe he should give tobacco a break, and tax the booze 55 cents or 1.00 more on the bottle. Lots more money there!
Larry and Hope Vaughan, Duck
Why not add that tax to the liquor and beer being sold that may curb the rate of deaths by drunk drivers.
Sonya Core, Kenna
Yes i do. I am a smoker and tried many times to quit. If the cost continues to rise hopefully this would give an incentive to quit. Sure would make me try harder.
June Davis, Roanoke VA
I am a cashier in a convienence store. By getting a first hand look at what is being sold, chewing tobacco, beer etc. cigarettes should not be the only thing to have taxes raised. People who say they can't stand the smoke are a lot of the ones that buy snuff.
JoAnn Castle, Charleston WV
Enough is enough. Someone please explain to me how this is not taxation without representation. Yes, smoking is a dirty, smelly habit. But it is not the killer that it has been accused of being. Smoking is a bad habit. Smoking is a dirty habit. Smoking is an addiction. But should smokers bare the burden of paying these tax dollars? Please give smokers a break for once. Aren't West Virginians all ready taxed heavily enough? Thanks for my chance to vent on this issue.
Sheila A Hartshorn, Elizabeth, W. Va.
I think that the price that we smokers have to pay is already outragous. I just moved here from north carolina, where most of the tobacco is produced and cannot beleive the price we must pay here for cigarettes!!! They should give us some kind of tax reduction. The tobacco companies get us addictited and then the prices go through the roof. I have been smoking for about 20 years and i can remember paying under a dollar per pack, now the government has gone crazy with the taxes on ciggs, gas and alcohol....Why don't they tax something that would hurt them, such as hi-priced suits or something like that. Live the little fellows like us alone. We are just barely surviving like it is.
Lori Smith, Newton, WV
I think they pick on the smokers and are always wanting to raise the prices. Why don't they impose the 55 cent tax on beer and leave us smokers alone?
Jennifer Jones, Mount Hope
It is a discrimination towards smokers. They should tax something that everybody uses.. Smokers always get the shaft....
Rob, St Albans
Putting the cost on the front end of tobacco products (before using) hopefully will deter some people not to use or to use less tobacco, therefore, alleviating some of the healthcare costs on the back end (after use).
Vicki Church, Alloy
If the cigarette tax is raised, WV will lose even more money from me. I will simply drive the short distance to Kentucky once a month. So, instead of gaining extra tax dollars, the state will lose what it currently gets from my cigarette purchases.
D. Jefferson, Culloden
Any product that, long term, can cause rising health care costs should carry with it an appropriate tax. By doing so, only those who choose to use the product and thus take the risk of any long-term health issues would carry the burden of the cost, instead of forcing every in the long run to pay for the choices of some.
April Angell-York, Charleston, WV
I don't think this is a good idea. I mean sure non-smokers think it's a great idea and health nuts think it's an even better idea but what about people like me that are addicted and can't quit no matter what we do? Why not raise the taxes on alcohol? How many people have been killed by a smoking driver? I know cigerettes kill people too but drinking and driving kill all people regardless of age.
Mrs. Shanin D. Egnor, Griffithsville
Alcohol should be taxed higher before tobacco.
Brigitte Carney, Red House
Raise them a dollar a pack! That should discourage quite a few. Out kids dont need to smoke or start to smoke and look at all the health care that it costs the state.( The taxpayers that is)
Helen, Charleston,WV
Not only will this decrease the prevalence of smoking - it will generate additional monies for the Medicaid system.
V. Smaltz, Charleston, WV
Tobacco related health care costs are eating a large chunk of the budgets. The cause of the problem should be paying for the increased health care costs. Plus if you can't afford to smoke maybe you wont.
Ken Nida, Elkview, WV 25071
55 cents is not enough. I think $1 would be sufficient.
,
I dont think this is fair. I quit smoking almost 3 years ago. If they are so worried about teens smoking, why arent they just as concerned about teens drinking? I havent seen anyone prepose to add a 55 cent tax to alcholic beverages. And if health groups are so concerned with the health of West Virginians then they should prepose to add a tax to fast food. Isnt overweight one of the leading causes of death among West Virginians? Thank you, Crystal Nash Clendenin, WV
Crystal Nash, Clendenin
Yes! The tax should be higher on cigarettes. Make the smokers pay for killing themselves and exposing the rest of us non-smokers. This extra money could be used to keep our doctors here. They should also raise the tax on alcohol for basicly the same reason.
A.S., Hurricane
Absolutely! We need money in the state budget, and we have one of the lowest tobacco taxes in country. I know our state makes some of its income from tobacco, but I wish those farmers would plant something else. Perhaps the state should subsidize farming something else on that land the way tobacco is subsidized.
Anita Chapman, Hurricane, WV
The tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products should be raised even higher than he has proposed.
Charlie Rose, Birch River
I think that this would be a good way to raise money for the state. It might also force some smokers to give up the habit which would make for healthier West Virginians.
Karen, Charleston
I smoke and I think it would be a great idea if they would spend it on something useful like health care & presciptions for senior citizens & stuff like that. But it will probally go to something stupid.
Kevin Lowe, Chesapeake, WV
Let's think about raising taxes on liquor, beer and wine for a change, instead of cigarettes.
Debbie, Cross Lanes
If it was up to me, I would raise it even higher!
Leslie Mills, Cross Lanes
Absolutley! We have too many people smoking in West Virginia! It is sad to see so many outside hospitals smoking. We are paying for the medical treatment they are eventually going to be using. The tax should be raised even more to discourage buying the cigarettes. With gasoline prices so high maybe this will force people to quit smoking so they can afford a tank of gas.
Sheryl Tucci, Huntington
The tax should absolutely be raised. Studies have shown smoking levels are lower in states with higher taxes. An increase in price has been shown to encourage smokers to quit, and others not to start at all. Plus, the state would be profiting from the tax.
Erica, Hurricane
And I also feel that the Governor should propose raising the tax on Alchohol, Smokeless Tobacco, and other non-necessities that are hazzardous to the health of people. If these measures were taken, maybe it would be possible to start lowering the tax on food and medicine, necessities of life.
Derek Walker, Sissonville
We pay enough as it is
Drex
Cigarettes are high enough now.
Christy, Webster Springs
I think that the cigarette tax should be raised to 55 cents a pack because 1. it might lower the number of cigarette packs that people might buy which in the long run might help keep people healthier and alive longer, and 2. it will be a lot harder for teenagers to get cigarettes. Since I'm 16 years old (don't smoke), I know how easy it would be for a teen to buy cigarettes but with the tax raising, I'm sure many more teens will not want to buy them as much as usual.
Megan Murphy, Cross Lanes
Bob Wise should also raise the tax on alcoholic beverages!
Matthew S., Charleston
Absolutely. This has been shown to be effective in reducing youth tobacco use.
Pat, S. Charleston
If they are going to use the money in the state of WV and not other states. The money should be used for a good cause, not just on schools, but communities. It really doesn't matter how much they raise cigarette taxes most of the people will still smoke, and teenagers will find other aways to get the money for them,no matter what. (I was one of them not to long ago.)But now I have quit smoking on my own and doing just as fine without them. I only hope this raise on taxes, won't increase the shop lifting rate.
Wendy, Richwood
Personally, I think they should have raised the tax a long time ago. Maybe it will help people to break their habbit.
Julie Young, St. Albans, WV
Lay it on somebody else for a change, instead of the smokers. If EVERYONE would quit smoking, they would have to do away with alot of these free programs that are funded from cigarette tax. You would think that they would use the tobacco settlement money.
Jim Cavender, Charleston
No we pay enough taxes in this crazy but beautiful state.
Terri, South Charleston
It isn't a fair tax because it puts too big a burden on a minority. If the churches can accept lottery money why can't they pay taxes on their holdings. That should help the budget and it seems fair.
Gail Stalnaker, Ripley
I think that the tax should be raise for two reasons. One, more money for our state, and two, because it is a filthy habbit.
Henry, Indore
Yes, Because somking causes deadly effects on u, and the non somkers should not have to pay anything.
mitchell
Yes, I do. I really do not not how much this will help stop atticted people, but it might make kids trying think a little harder before they get addicted to a product that is at a high price.
Kara, Smithers
They should tax liquor as well as cigarettes.
Donna Martin, St. Albans
No I dont agree, I dont smoke , but I know people who do. They can barely afford them now.
stephanie, kanawah falls
Smokers have already been pushed out side away from the public to have a cigarette, why do we continue to be punished. We know it is against our health, but the same as someone who drinks, it is our choice and no one elses.
Anita, Charleston
It will keep many people from smoking and help to make people stop smoking because it will be so expensive
Samantha, Huntington
Yes i think bob wise should raise the price on cigarettes
Cathy, Chas
I think it's a good decision to maybe help bring W.Va. out the economic sate it is in.
Allison Richmond, Craigsville
I am a smoker, and I am tired of having a tax increase on cigarettes every time there is a budget deficit. Why not cut some congressional salaries, since they are the ones who keep messsing up the budget. Secondly, people are already crossing the state line to avoid outrageous taxes on cigarettes, and gasoline, so I believe that a tax increase will end up costing the state money in the long run.
S.D. Marks, Ansted
I think that if he taxes them more people are less likely to start smoking and try to quit.
Kelsey Shedd, Scott Depot
Yes, i think this is a good move for this reason. If you raise the tax of cigarettes then maybe people will not buy it. It may sound to simple but people may need money for other things and think that the price for cigarettes are just to high.
Rebekah Johnson, Charleston
Lungs; Priceless!
Baxter Ray, Vinton
Cigarettes are not the only item that is harmful-they should not be singled out, what about alcohol? What about cutting some of the outrageous salaries of politians and their employees and make them live on normal realistic salaries like the rest of us.
Debby, Summersville
Cause my husband smokes wayyy to much, now he cant afford too and i love it
Shelia Massey, Charleston
Is he insane ?
Gordon Snodgrass, Marmet
I think that if someone smokes and adds the health risk to others by second hand smoke that they should pay for it in some form. Tax is the only reasonable thing so far that anyone can come up with. I also believe that under no circumstances should a smoker be able to take legal action against a tobacco co. for smoking related illnesses. They had a choice not to smoke!!
Sheila Nelson, Poca WV
I'm not even a smoker and I think raising the taxes on cigarettes again is crazy.They need to be taxing the alcohol.That is someone's choice to smoke and kill them ownselves but when alcohol is involved,people get drunk and want to drive home and then what happens.An innocent victim of someone's stupidity.You don't see that with a cigarette.
Racheal, Sylvester
Yes because my mom smokes and i wish she would quit smoking its very bad for you amd maybe if they teep rasing it up she would quit smoking but who knows?
Tammi Bailey, Logan W.Va
I think that would be a great idea maybe the smokers would stop smoking due to higher prices
Susan Johnson, Chesapeake
Yes i do i think he ought to raise it more.if he raises it enough maybe smoking would be less around.he ought to band cigarette smoking in wv especially in public places due to children and being around the smoke (second hand smoke).second hand smoke is bad for people especially small children so why not band it??????????
Sonja Dee Kirk, Ridgeview
WV pays enough taxes
S Day, Hurricane
He needs to raise the minimum wage to give familys a fighting chance to provide for there familys
joanne kroeplin, st albans
It could stand to be raised to at least 75 cents.
Brian Ord, Bancroft
I don't smoke but I think it is a bad move, to me this shows me that Wise can not run this state. If he was smart we would have cut backs in government and not a raise in taxes. IF Wise lets this go through I feel that he has signed his own pink slip and should not even show up at the next election.
Shawn Lanham, Charleston
yes I Think that it is about time that state got tax money from this (drug)!
Pat Boggess, Ripley
Raise cigarette tax-delete food tax
C A Faulkner, Teays Valley
I am a smoker and i think i pay enough taxes on cigarettes. why not tax the beer? let them pay some of the taxes.
Kathy Short, Spencer
Raise it up! The higher the cost of smokes, the more people who can't afford them, and will either quit or not start. (Drug free stop smoking plan).
Brian Thompson, South Charleston
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