Medical Association wants to raise tax on tobacco
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Minnesota's largest doctor group says it is time to raise the state's tax on tobacco products.
That's one issue the Minnesota Medical Association will advocate for when the state legislature goes into session Jan. 8.
Raising the tax carries at least two benefits, said Dave Renner of the MMA.
"From our point of view, not only does it raise the state a lot of money, but more importantly it has a direct impact on smokers, especially among young, teenaged smokers," Renner said. "By increasing the cost of product, you see a drastic drop in number of cigarettes smoked."
In fiscal year 2011, the state projected that raising the tax by 25 cents per pack would raise an additional $50 million.
The MMA will also push for the state to expand its Medicaid program, an option under the federal health care law.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?
You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!
Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.
