FRANKFORT — On the heels of an ice storm that devastated parts of Kentucky, the state will continue its work coping with a $456 million shortfall, Gov. Steve Beshear said Wednesday.
Along with praising state storm relief efforts in his annual State of the Commonwealth Address, Beshear stressed the need for effective cost-cutting and fundraising, including an increase in the state’s cigarette tax.
“Across the state — on factory floors, in college classrooms and in crowded, local health departments — I see faces lined with anxiety and fear,†Beshear said. “I hear voices shaking with frustration and confusion. And I receive letters and e-mails virtually every day underlined with desperation and dismayâ€
Beshear’s cost-cutting plan includes $150 million in additional spending cuts and an increase in the cigarette tax from 30 cents to $1 a pack.
“The people of this state overwhelmingly support a significant increase in tobacco taxes,†he said Wednesday night. “You see, Kentuckians are not anti-tax. They are anti-unnecessary taxes.â€
During his speech, the governor also advocated reforms for the Kentucky Education Reform Act, or KERA, a 1990 act that mandated the legislature enact broad changes in the state’s education system.
He said it is time to bring education, business and legislative leaders together to “check our course and see if any corrective steering is necessary,†although he offered no specific initiatives or proposed changes in the speech.
Beshear cited some of his higher education initiatives as a way Kentucky has moved forward despite economic setbacks.
“We acted quickly to save our student loan program from bankruptcy,†Beshear said, “and we worked with university presidents to create a task force on access and affordability in the hope of increasing the number of graduates and reigning in tuition costs that have skyrocketed the last 10 years.â€
In his Wednesday address, Beshear also supported:
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Dear Editor:
The Kentucky Medicaid system pays out $487 Million to treat tobacco-caused illnesses each year. It is very likely that the tobacco tax collection doesn’t even come close to covering those cost for treating poor people.
Someone will probably say it is unfair that smokers be taxed more. But really, who should be paying for tobacco-caused diseases? It is unfair that nonsmokers have money taken out of their pockets to pay for diseases they don’t cause.
Portion covered by the state Medicaid program – $487 million
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/toll.php?StateID=KY
Kentucky spends over $1,000,000,000 per year in obesity related heath care costs. http://personnel.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E5E72DD0-EBD8-4FAF-ADD2-468B68903321/0/112706pr.pdf
Fat people cost the state far more than smokers do.
What is the problem with letting smokers and fat people simply die from their poor choices? Why should the government pay to extend their lives?
Lyman how dare you ask the obvious. You better shut your mouth before the state puts the leeches on you.
Taking care of these people is an industry. The government talks big about health concerns, but the reality is, if people didn’t smoke or get fat on fast food, then (1) where would government get the money to replace the cigarette tax? and (2) what about all the jobs that would be lost in the health care industry if people were healthier?
In such a case I would predict a health food tax and a bailout for health care providers.
Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health, but, so is drinking. This is a
freedom of choice that is being violiated by every State in the Union. I think they should pick on something else to tax besides cigarettes all the time. What about taxing liquor some more. Governor Fletcher just put an extra tax on cigarettes
before he left office. I had rather meet someone on the highway smoking a cigarette than to meet someone who is drunk or who is on dope. Smokers have rights too and they are being treated like second class citizens. Also, $1.00 a pack is too much tax to place on tobacco. Why don’t they put the Lottery funds in the general fund and use it where they need to. The reason people in Kentucky voted for the Lottery is because they thought they wouldn’t be taxed to death, but, I guess they thought wrong. It is a violation of people’s civil rights not to have freedom of choice. Smokers should have as many rights as drinkers. How would the people who drink whisky, beer, wine, ETC. like it if every time they needed tax
they taxed the liquor they drank? I don’t think they would like it at all. The fair thing to do would be to have a smoking section and a non-smoking section in restaurants too. That is what they make exhaust fans for, and separate rooms
for the smokers. I am for equal rights for all, not just a select few, and we need
people to represent us who are for equal treatment for all too. That is my own personal view about the cigarette tax. We don’t mind being taxed but, they always
tax tobacco instead of something else. People who chew, smoke, and dip are tired of being taxed to death. It’s very unfair to tax the same thing every time Ky needs more money to operate on. I know I’m not the only one who thinks this way. Smokers should not be punished for smoking. It is a freedom of choice,
just like drinking is a freedom of choice. Find something else to tax for a change.
UM, Alcohol is taxed. They are trying to raise that tax too. Get yrself together.