Health advocates and some lawmakers hope raising Indiana’s cigarette tax by $1.50 will turn people off from smoking.
Public health officials say the increase is a proactive approach to reducing one of the country’s worst smoking rates. It also comes as Republican statehouse leaders are pushing an infrastructure funding proposal that would take money from the general fund.
The measure would raise the smoking age to 21, send more dollars toward tobacco cessation and prevention programs and repeal the state’s “Smoker’s Bill of Rights.” A health panel voted last week to send the measure to the House Ways and Means Committee.
