Backers of cig tax increase deliver thousands of postcards to lawmakers

Backers of a $1.25-per-pack increase in Idaho’s cigarette tax, now 57 cents per pack, delivered more than 8,000 postcards in support of the move from Idahoans to state lawmakers today, for a total of nearly 20,000 this year. Susie Pouliot, head of the Idaho Medical Association, said, “Raising the tobacco tax will result in a 19 percent decrease in tobacco use by kids and raise $50.5 million a year.  Those dollars can be directed towards tobacco cessation and health care related costs.” The national average cigarette tax is $1.45 per pack; Washington’s is $3.025 a pack. Thus far, no legislation has been introduced on the matter in Idaho this year.