TOBACCO TAX TO HELP FUND HEALTH CARE HUGHES SAYS

HARRISBURG, April 7 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes said today he would introduce a plan to add a tax on smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products to help fund the proposed Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care (PA ABC) program.

Hughes’ proposed program would extend subsidized health coverage to over 270,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians—including people who are on the state’s adultBasic program waiting list.

            He would partially fund the plan by adding a 36 cents per ounce tax on smokeless tobacco products a 36 cents tax on cigars and cigarillos.  The plan would generate an estimated $48 million in fiscal year 2008-09.

Hughes’ PA ABC plan would also be funded with state and federal money and individual premiums.

            “With the economy headed downward and the price of gas and food going up, we need real health care reform now more than ever,” Hughes said. “It’s truly a shame that some families are forced to forgo health insurance in order to pay for basic needs like utility bills, food and day care.

            “We need to come up with creative ways to support PA ABC, and a tobacco tax would help make access to quality care a reality,” he said. 

Hughes sponsored the Senate’s version of the PA ABC program that provides health care reforms so uninsured Pennsylvanians have access to quality care.

Hughes is a leading Senate advocate for providing much-needed health care options for uninsured individuals. He has continuously implored the Senate to pass a health care reform package by the June 30 state budget deadline.