State Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, vice chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said the tax increase isn't about raising money; it's about health benefits.

The current tax is more than $2 a pack, as I recall. And it would raise maybe more than $200 million. So, it really is about raising money, too. Maybe just a little bit?

I'd have to research the exact numbers.

Proposal to Increase Cigarette Tax by $1/ Pack Key to Smoking Prevention and Protecting Healthcare Access

“Cut Smoking, Not Prevention” campaign established to support cigarette tax increase

OLYMPIA—A coalition of health care and anti-smoking advocates today welcomed introduction of legislation by State Senator Rodney Tom (D-Medina) that will increase the state cigarette tax by $1/ pack. The new revenue will be used to avoid looming cuts to smoking prevention and cessation programs and preserve other health care priorities at risk in the current budget negotiations.

Supporters tout the advantages of funding these programs through a direct revenue stream instead of relying on general fund monies—and underscore that the legislation is really about savings and priorities.

"It's not about revenue, it's about health savings,” said Tom. “The societal cost of a pack of cigarettes is over $15. So we're subsidizing smoking. We just can't go that direction."

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Organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids have rallied in support of the bill, citing long-standing statistics that demonstrate higher costs as a prime deterrent to expansion of smoking among youth and adults.

“When the cost of a pack increases, young people simply won’t start smoking,” said Aaron Doeppers, regional director for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. “This legislation is a great step forward toward reducing the number of new smokers in Washington State.”

The three organizations have formed a campaign in support of the bill, called “Cut Smoking, Not Prevention” that will unite lobbying, grass roots and other communications efforts.

“We want to make it clear that this legislation is a common sense way to meet public health goals without burdening the general fund or Washington taxpayers,” said Lucy Culp, legislative director for the American Heart Association in Washington. “When times are tough, we cannot afford to retreat on tobacco prevention programs that save lives and save money.”

Coalition partners tout strong public support for the legislation, illustrated in a recent poll.

“Seven out of 10 voters support increasing the cost of cigarettes to fund prevention programs, including cancer screenings and other programs otherwise at risk of being lost,” said Erin Dziedzic, director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Washington. “We believe—and the public seems to agree-- that this is a focused, important piece of legislation that will help protect public health and the public purse.”