Smokers Info » Health Care

Illinois sees drop in smoking; tobacco settlement money used for other needs

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:09:07 +0000

PEORIA — Tamerra Henderson-Hightower is almost Richard Pryor-esque when she talks about the painful pockets of her life. She pulls laughter out of the darkest spaces. It’s not necessarily when she talks about the years of child abuse by her father, the years of drug addiction after an uncle introduced her to cocaine, even more years – nine times in and out of treatment – trying to kick the habit. “Don ... Jump to full article >>

The News Keeps Breaking Big Tobacco’s Way

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:55:28 +0000

Last week, Big Tobacco players Altria, Lorillard, and Reynolds American closed out a 13-year legal battle with a victory. These tobacco companies and others were sued by the city of St. Louis and 37 area hospitals for nearly $455 million in a bid to recover costs from 1993 to 2010 of treating smoking-related illnesses for patients who were unable to pay. The hospitals claimed that the industry had purposely produced an “unr ... Jump to full article >>

House sets more health-care repeal votes

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:41:19 +0000

The battles over the fiscal 2011 and 2012 budgets are the center of attention this week on the Hill, but the House is also poised to consider a measure that would repeal another portion of the national health-care law. The bill, HR 1217, was sponsored by House Health subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) and will be voted on by the House this Wednesday. The measure would repeal the health-care law’s Prevention and Public Heal ... Jump to full article >>

Councilor cuts off debate on cigarette sales ban

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:19:47 +0000

WORCESTER — A city councilor has temporarily put the brakes on a proposal to ban the sale of tobacco products by local health care providers, including drugstores and colleges. Councilor-at-Large Michael J. Germain tonight exercised his right under the City Council’s rules to hold for one week amendments to the city’s tobacco control ordinance that have been recommended by City Manager Michael V. O’Brien. In addition to ... Jump to full article >>

Dems criticize using tobacco payments for business loans

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:23:22 +0000

HARRISBURG — The governor’s proposed economic development loan fund would count on some money previously used for health care programs to help him to dole out business loans. Of the $2 billion anticipated for the fund, $220 million would come from the annual payments Pennsylvania receives as a result of a 1998 lawsuit settlement with tobacco companies. Gov. Tom Corbett said the new loan program, dubbed the Liberty Loa ... Jump to full article >>

Florida must close loophole in tobacco tax

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:04:48 +0000

Our state lawmakers will soon have to make incredibly difficult decisions to address Florida’s unprecedented budget crisis. In times like these, funding for critical services like health care may face drastic reductions. Important legislation that would close the notorious “Non-Participating Manufacturers loophole” in Florida’s tobacco policy would help remedy our budget shortfall. The 1997 Florida Tobacco ... Jump to full article >>

Cigarette Tax Hikes for Georgia & Nebraska?

admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:37:00 +0000

ATLANTA & LINCOLN, Neb. — Lawmakers in both Georgia and Nebraska are mulling cigarette excise tax increases to fund health-care in the states. For Georgia, the proposed increase would raise the state tax 84% from 37 cents to 68 cents per pack, while Nebraska is looking at a whopping 211% increase to $1.99 per pack. Nebraska Sen. Mike Gloor proposed the increase in his state, according to a report in the Lincoln Journal ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco funds could save state health care, says auditor general

admin — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:39:06 +0000

Pennsylvania has burned through over $1 billion in tobacco settlement money that has floated away like a plume of smoke from its original mission. At least, that’s what Auditor General Jack Wagner says. “Today is a clarion call about where we’re going in the future,” said Wagner. The tobacco settlement sends $370 million a year to Pennsylvania – money that used to fund adultBasic and smoking cessati ... Jump to full article >>

Oklahoma City Council gives intention to exempt Remington Park from smoking regulations

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 07:33:03 +0000

By a 7 to 2 vote, the Oklahoma City Council stated its intent to exempt Remington Park from future stricter tobacco ordinances that could be possible if a bill currently before the state legislature passes. Oklahoma City Council members passed a resolution Tuesday stating their willingness to exempt Remington Park from future stricter tobacco ordinances. The resolution passed 7 to 2. Ward 3 Councilman Larry McAtee and Ward 8 Cou ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco tax has uncertain future

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:31:40 +0000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill to help the state pay long-term health insurance costs for retired workers faces an uncertain fate after the Senate Finance Committee voted the plan down Monday night. Lawmakers have been struggling for over a year to find a way for West Virginia to deal with the $8 billion in long-term retiree health care costs, known as “other post-employment benefits,” or OPEB. The Senate plan, spea ... Jump to full article >>