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Kick the habit or pay up!
alledan
Member Posts: 19,541
(AP) Four former surgeons general on Tuesday unveiled a plan to reduce smoking that included a $2-per-pack tax they predicted would prompt at least 5 million smokers to quit.
They also called for a nationwide counseling and support line for smokers trying to quit, an idea that immediately was put into practice by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Thompson said more than $25 million would be dedicated for the toll-free, national "quitline" that will be established by year's end. States also would receive additional funding to either supplement or create their own quitline services.
"The benefit of this network is that it provides a single access point for smokers so that every smoker can get the tools that he or she needs to stop smoking," Thompson said.
The 10-point plan endorsed by the former surgeons general and other health advocates seeks additional tobacco research, better doctor training and an extensive media campaign explaining the dangers of smoking.
It also urges that the cigarette excise tax be raised from the current 39 cents to $2.39, of which 50 percent of the proceeds - or $14 billion - would go toward paying for the various aspects of the plan.
About 50 million Americans smoke, with many of them concentrated in poor neighborhoods where treatment is not widely available. Health officials have estimated that smoking causes about 440,000 premature deaths per year and costs the nation $75 billion in direct health care expenses.
"It is the equivalent of another 9-11 World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania disaster occurring about every two days," said Dr. Julius Richmond, the nation's top public health official under President Carter from 1977 to 1981.
About three out of four smokers seek to quit, but fewer than 5 percent who quit for a day are able to sustain that for longer periods.
"If we act now, we can prevent tomorrow's cancer, emphysema and health disease," said Dr. David Satcher, who served under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush from 1998-2002.
Jennifer Golisch, a spokeswoman for tobacco giant Philip Morris USA Inc., said that while the company supports government efforts to educate the public about smoking, a $2 per pack excise tax could promote tax evasion.
"We are opposed to the proposed federal excise tax increases because cigarette excise taxes could have unintended consequences," she said. "For example, smokers may purchase from the Internet and Native American territories."
The 10-point plan also calls for federal officials to:
Encourage insurers to provide health coverage for smoking cessation treatment, such as counseling and drugs.
Initiate community-based programs in schools, workplaces and faith-based organizations to combat smoking.
Establish a uniform standard of tobacco dependence treatment among health care providers.
Others supporting the 10-point plan Tuesday were former surgeons general Dr. C. Everett Koop, who served under Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush from 1981-89, and Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, who served under President Nixon from 1969-73, as well as the American Public Health Association, the University of Wisconsin's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention and the American Legacy Foundation.
They also called for a nationwide counseling and support line for smokers trying to quit, an idea that immediately was put into practice by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Thompson said more than $25 million would be dedicated for the toll-free, national "quitline" that will be established by year's end. States also would receive additional funding to either supplement or create their own quitline services.
"The benefit of this network is that it provides a single access point for smokers so that every smoker can get the tools that he or she needs to stop smoking," Thompson said.
The 10-point plan endorsed by the former surgeons general and other health advocates seeks additional tobacco research, better doctor training and an extensive media campaign explaining the dangers of smoking.
It also urges that the cigarette excise tax be raised from the current 39 cents to $2.39, of which 50 percent of the proceeds - or $14 billion - would go toward paying for the various aspects of the plan.
About 50 million Americans smoke, with many of them concentrated in poor neighborhoods where treatment is not widely available. Health officials have estimated that smoking causes about 440,000 premature deaths per year and costs the nation $75 billion in direct health care expenses.
"It is the equivalent of another 9-11 World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania disaster occurring about every two days," said Dr. Julius Richmond, the nation's top public health official under President Carter from 1977 to 1981.
About three out of four smokers seek to quit, but fewer than 5 percent who quit for a day are able to sustain that for longer periods.
"If we act now, we can prevent tomorrow's cancer, emphysema and health disease," said Dr. David Satcher, who served under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush from 1998-2002.
Jennifer Golisch, a spokeswoman for tobacco giant Philip Morris USA Inc., said that while the company supports government efforts to educate the public about smoking, a $2 per pack excise tax could promote tax evasion.
"We are opposed to the proposed federal excise tax increases because cigarette excise taxes could have unintended consequences," she said. "For example, smokers may purchase from the Internet and Native American territories."
The 10-point plan also calls for federal officials to:
Encourage insurers to provide health coverage for smoking cessation treatment, such as counseling and drugs.
Initiate community-based programs in schools, workplaces and faith-based organizations to combat smoking.
Establish a uniform standard of tobacco dependence treatment among health care providers.
Others supporting the 10-point plan Tuesday were former surgeons general Dr. C. Everett Koop, who served under Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush from 1981-89, and Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, who served under President Nixon from 1969-73, as well as the American Public Health Association, the University of Wisconsin's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention and the American Legacy Foundation.
Comments
"Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoscet."
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems
[}:)]
Too much darn regulation on everything.
www.awbansunset.com
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. -Thomas Jefferson
Get the job done and come home safe guys.
I rush in where others flee.
I do like the idea of people not smoking. If this would work I would be in favor of it. If it would work.
Ohhh yeah its a great idea. And while we are taxing the minority and giving the government our blessing to do so, lets start placing an equivalent federal tax on guns, to pay for the carnage that guns cause in this country.
$2.00 a pack? When you consider that is the cost of a pack of butts is LESS THAN $2.00 when you take all the taxes away, let make the tax on firearms 125% . So instead of paying $200 for a gun, you can pay $450. Its a good idea. It woul prohibit people from buying guns, which will take away from society the cost that accrues due to gun violence. And gun owners are a minority in this country, so why not? And for those who cant shake the addiction of buying guns, the money that is collected on the gun tax can be used to pay for the tax program, and also to pay for the expense of a gun society.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
Woods
rcdis
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain)
"Sure, you can trust the government. Just ask an American Indian."
-Bumper sticker
The greatest safety device in the universe, when used properly, is the human brain.
"Keep your eyes open, do your own thinking, and be your own man."
-Marshal Matt Dillon
quote:Originally posted by salzo
[brOhhh yeah its a great idea. And while we are taxing the minority and giving the government our blessing to do so, lets start placing an equivalent federal tax on guns, to pay for the carnage that guns cause in this country.
$2.00 a pack? When you consider that is the cost of a pack of butts is LESS THAN $2.00 when you take all the taxes away, let make the tax on firearms 125% . So instead of paying $200 for a gun, you can pay $450. Its a good idea. It woul prohibit people from buying guns, which will take away from society the cost that accrues due to gun violence. And gun owners are a minority in this country, so why not? And for those who cant shake the addiction of buying guns, the money that is collected on the gun tax can be used to pay for the tax program, and also to pay for the expense of a gun society.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
Guns don't kill their owners when they use them (correctly).
I have never seen a cigarette used for self protection.
A firearms is a TOOL. Nicotine is a DRUG.
Talk about apples and oranges!
Says you. The majority would disagree with your opinions.The majority fews guns not as tools, but as instruments of death. Point is, you should not be welcoming and encouraging taxation on a product because "you dont like it". A lot of people dont like guns, and wouldnt see any harm in taxing the hell out of them, because they dont need them to begin with.
We should question the governbment ANYTIME they propose raising a tax. But most, only question it if it affects them personally.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
.....why not tax chocolate bars being purchased by fat people to.
The couldnt tax chocalate, because too many people eat chocolate. They wouldnt be able to get away with it because the people would object. But smokers? Hey thats OK cause most people do not smoke, and "most people" wouldnt object to the taxation placed on those citizens.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
I'm in the medical community and am sick of its communist tendencies. It has no business in politics. They should foster good health but in the end, freedom should prevail. The government has no business telling me what is good for me or my health. It reminds me of 1986 (Orwell) when the government outlawed sugar because it was "bad for health". They forced everyone to use saccharin instead.[V][:(!][xx(]
Frog
GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY
A firearms is a TOOL. Nicotine is a DRUG.
Talk about apples and oranges!
Bigtire, would you care to explain to me just what A.T.F. stands for?
R/
Dave
How different the world would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician. - Henry Miller
WHAT HAPPENED TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
If you choose to smoke you take the health risks
you should pay the price
the goverment should not be in the equation at all
Lt. snarlgard RRG
SMILE...MAKE EM WONDER WHAT YOUR UP TO[}:)]
The gene pool needs chlorine.
"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows.
I made it till I was 19 with never having smoked ,now over 20 years later still smoking THANKS TO OUR GOV
It reminds me of 1986 (Orwell) when the government outlawed sugar because it was "bad for health". They forced everyone to use saccharin instead.[V][:(!][xx(]
That sound you just heard was me beating my head on the wall.
First, it's 1984.
Secondly, there is not a single smidgen of information in the book to suggest that they banned sugar for any reason at all, much less for health reasons. Everyone is issued a ration, and saccarine is much cheaper than sugar.