State Chamber supports cigarette tax increase for health
Posted on: 12/7/16
At the Public Affairs Forum and annual board meeting on Dec. 1, the State Chamber of Oklahoma board of directors
voted to support an increase in the cigarette tax as a part of the Chamber’s 2017 legislative program. The statement adopted by the State Chamber was submitted by the OHA through the Chamber’s Health Committee as follows:
Support a tax increase on cigarettes for the purpose of improving the health of Oklahomans and raising revenue to fund health care priorities such as: (1) assuring that all Medicaid providers are fully compensated for their services, (2) adequate funding for mental health and (3) providing coverage to uninsured Oklahomans.
The statement was adopted unanimously by the State Chamber board. Information about increasing the cigarette tax is located on the
OHA website, and includes “Making the Case for a $1.50 Cigarette Tax Increase Dedicated to Health Care” and information about cigarette taxes prepared by the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center.
(Lynne White)