The latest healthcare reform plan proposed by Democrats would be funded in part by raising cigarette taxes $2 a pack. Governor Schwarzenegger doesn't like it, but tobacco control advocates say it makes sense. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
Researchers say for every ten percent hike in the price of cigarettes, you get about a 4 percent drop in smoking rates.
Dr. Stanton Glantz directs the Center for Tobacco Control Research at UC San Francisco . He thinks a $2-a-pack tax hike would be good for the state.
Glantz : One is it would reduce smoking which would reduce health care costs. The second thing is that if enough of the money was used, it would allow the state to get back to having a first class tobacco control program, to help smokers quit and keep kids from starting.
Glantz says there would still be a net increase in tax revenue to California. He says that's because the tax hike wouldn't be enough to induce many long-term smokers to quit.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
