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Advocates hope to make lobbyists out of everyday Utahns in the fight against smoking in Utah.
Recorded phone messages are going out this week asking Utahns to contact their legislators about making the cigarette tax $2 per pack.
It's an unusual step for a group to use a political phone bank. But the American Cancer Society wants Utahns to lobby their lawmakers on the cigarette tax.
"We have a lot of folks in our state who smoke, and in fact we know that smoking is on the increase," said Michael Siler, director of government relations for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network.
He says smokers cost Utah millions of dollars in health care and lost productivity.
"Those people who smoke, who cause those costs, aren't paying them," he said. He wants the cigarette tax bumped up from 69.5 cents to $2 a pack.
Siler says many people will say it's unfair to smokers in this economic time to sock them with a huge tax. But he says it's unfair to make the 88 percent of Utah's non-smokers keep paying for the health and productivity losses caused by smokers.
The automated calls will go to more than 200,000 Utahns. That will be followed up with a live call to 80,000 Utahns to encourage their support. The group will hold more events once the legislative session starts.
Siler also told KSL that in Utah:
- 4,000 12-14 year-olds smoke
- 13,000 15-18 year-olds smoke
- 200,000 adults 18 years old and older smoke
- Utah has the lowest smoking rate in the country but rates are on the increase
- 1,100 people die each year as a result of smoking
- 15,000 years of life are lost in our state as a result of people who smoke
Annually:
- $345 million is spent in our state for smoking-related health care costs
- $275 million is lost in productivity
- $317 million is spent on cigarettes. A majority of the money goes out of state.
Silas says there are $10 of health and productivity costs per pack, but only $1.08 in tax. He says the other $9 is paid for by the 88 percent of Utahns who don't smoke. He also says 25 percent of kids who currently smoke will quit if the tax is raised, and 8 percent of adults will quit.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
