Georgia state legislators are considering a bill that would increase taxes on a pack of cigarettes by one dollar, bringing the total tax to $1.37. These changes will affect the well known brands like Parliament cigarettes, Kent cigarettes or not so known brands like Cosmos brand.
Representative Ron Stephens, Republican of Savannah, sponsored House Bill 39, which according to his website; he estimates will generate $350 million for the state, and attract $1 billion in federal health care funds.
Mercer University Director of Employee Wellness, who is Rachel May, promotes health indicatives on campus. She affirms that the tax hike is a good way to generate money for the state, and might reduce smoking. Every person that they can convince to quit smoking is a huge help for them personally and also to the bottom line in terms of cost reduction for healthcare.
But not everyone's convinced the bill's a good idea. Several Republican gubernatorial candidates’ spoke out against the tax at Tuesday night's debate. House Speaker David Ralston and Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers both affirm they do not agree with the bill.
Deanna Jones, downtown Macon restaurant employee, says she's been smoking for about six years and thinks the tax is an unfair way to try to balance the state's budget. She thinks that there are better ways to get more money than to make someone pay more for a cigarette.
In the end every person makes his own decision and takes care of himself.
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