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June 26, 2008More than Two-thirds of Mississippi Voters Support Raising Tobacco Tax to Fund Medicaid |
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From PR Newswire: A new poll released today shows that Mississippi voters overwhelmingly support a significant increase in the state's tobacco tax to fund vital Medicaid programs and help reduce smoking among kids. Nearly seven out of 10 Mississippi voters (69 percent) support a $1 per pack increase in the state's tobacco tax to fund Medicaid and reduce tobacco use, particularly among kids. The survey of 500 registered likely Mississippi voters was released by Communities for a Clean Bill of Health, a statewide coalition of health organizations and individuals that includes the Mississippi affiliates of AARP, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Children's Defense Fund, the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, and the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. In addition, a tobacco tax increase was far more popular with voters than increasing other taxes, such as the state income or sales tax, which was strongly supported by fewer than two out of 10 voters. In addition, when asked to choose between the two options to help address the Medicaid funding shortfall, an overwhelming 80 percent of voters preferred the $1 per pack tobacco tax increase, with just 8 percent preferring the hospital tax. Again, this strong preference crosses party lines as a majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents are more likely to support the candidate who supports the tax. In fact, a candidate who supports the cigarette tax increase will win handily over one who opposes it, regardless of which party's candidate supports the tax.
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