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CORRECTION: The 7th graf has been corrected to read: HB 3210 first must pass the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget before it can advance to the House floor.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2016
Governor Mary Fallin
Applauds House Committee for Passing Cigarette Tax Measure
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin
today congratulated members of the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Appropriations
and Budget for passing House Bill 3210, which would increase the cigarette
excise tax by $1.50 per pack. It passed, 16-11.
“This is a crucial step in reducing
Oklahoma’s leading cause of preventable death – smoking,” said Fallin. “It is
the single most effective way to reduce smoking and improve Oklahoma’s health.”
The governor applauded lawmakers for
taking steps to approve the cigarette tax, which requires a
three-fourths majority in both the House and Senate, instead of approving a
measure sending the question to a vote of the people in November.
“Legislative approval means revenue from
the tax can be coming into state coffers sooner, which would help offset some
of the $1.3 billion deficit facing our state in the upcoming fiscal year, which
starts July 1,” Fallin said.
HB 3210 calls for revenue from the
cigarette tax increase to go to the Healthcare Revolving Fund and to be appropriated by
legislators to agencies for activities eligible to be matched with federal
Medicaid dollars or mental health safety net services.
Polling showed overwhelming bipartisan support
for the increase.
HB 3210 first must pass the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget before it can advance to the House floor.
Smoking kills more people than AIDS,
alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined in
Oklahoma. It costs Oklahoma $1.6 billion in related health costs each year.
At the current rate, 88,000 Oklahoma
children alive today will die prematurely of smoking-related illnesses.
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Web: www.governor.ok.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GovernorMaryFallin
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GovMaryFallin
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