When Steve Rowe came out in support of raising the tobacco tax, to cover revenue loss, not everyone was pleased. Matt Gagnon called the proposal a “very gimmicky” solution to the budget gap. A thread at As Maine Goes calls the tobacco tax a scam – and criticism wasn’t just from the right.
Rosa Scarcelli, also seeking the Democratic nomination, said this week that ”we can’t continually raise taxes to pay for services, as one of my opponents has proposed.” Governor Baldacci has stood his ground on his pledge not to raise taxes. A new report has come out that supports Rowe’s plan.
The report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart & Lung Association and others is titled “Tobacco Taxes: A Win-Win-Win for Cash-Strapped States”. The report advocates raising tobacco taxes to increase state revenue and lower smoking among children, hence the “win win” title. Raising Maine’s cigarette tax by $1, the report states, will increase state revenue by $26.2 million. This had been proposed in December of last year, but a recent national poll supports their cause.
A poll by International Communications Research of 847 voters found 67% supported a $1 tobacco tax increase. Those questioned also supported raising the tobacco tax to alleviate the budget deficit (60% in favor, 38% opposed), while 72% opposed raising the sales tax and 80% opposed higher gasoline taxes.
How does the average Mainer feel about raising the tobacco tax? If you don’t smoke, you may not care. If you do smoke, or even if you don’t, you may see this tax as another attack on how you choose to live your life. Maine’s budgetary problem is not going away. It is quite clear to anyone paying even the slightest attention that the gubernatorial race will be focused on every aspect of Maine’s money. The state services don’t have enough. Mainers don’t have enough. Gauging how to best balance those needs will be key to the 2010 election. Mainers may be more interested in protecting their own wallets at the moment.
