Oregons Measure 20, Cigarette Tax
... extra two hundred eighteen dollars and forty cents a year to the state of Oregon to give himself health problems as well as shortening his life. This may not sound like a lot of money at first; consumers are only paying an extra three cents per cigarette they purchase. Nevertheless, supporters of Measure 20 have estimated that the new tax could generate nearly $71 million dollars in state revenue. Opponents of Measure 20 state that this tax is unnecessary and it will not bring in enough money to make a difference. No one can argue that Oregon does not need the income right now. This state is looking at a $482 million dollar deficit in the coming year, with a large portion of the money coming out of the education budget. Regardless of whether the tax brings in sixty cents or one hundred million dollars, every penny brought in through Measure 20 is a penny that does not have to be taken away from our schools, our police, social security or our health care. In regards to health, Measure 20 has benefits unrelated to aiding the budget. Many consumers believe that cigarettes are too expensive as prices stand now, and for a smoker who buys a pack of cigarettes every day, the sixty cent hike is equal to paying for an extra pack every week. With a significant increase in retail value, many current and potential smokers will cut back on or never start smoking, respectively, either out of economic necessity or simply being unwilling to pay the extra tax. The loss of customers to tobacco sales has it’s own benefits as well. The Centers for Disease Control announced that every person who stops smoking saves the state an estimated $7.58 million dollars in medical care and treatment. The reduction in the me...