INDIANAPOLIS (Network Indiana) — If elected governor, Democratic candidate Dr. Woody Myers, the former state health commissioner of Indiana, says he would push to raise the cigarette tax in Indiana in an effort to further discourage young people from smoking.
“I think Indiana’s cigarette tax is far lower than it should be,” Myers told All Indiana Politics on WISH-TV. “The more a pack of cigarettes costs the less likely it is for our teenagers to smoke them.”
Right now, Indiana’s cigarette tax tacks on an extra dollar to the cost of a pack of cigarettes. Myers said raising that tax would be a “last resort” they would look at as far as any tax increases are concerned.
The last time a cigarette tax hike was considered was in the 2019 legislative session when a bill that would have increased the cigarette tax to nearly $3.00 a pack lacked enough support to pass.
Myers’ opponent, incumbent Gov. Eric Holcomb, had said then that he would not oppose a cigarette tax hike but did not ardently pursue due to a lack of support for it among the rank-and-file lawmakers in the statehouse
Myers has also been endorsed by Republican State Superindent Jennifer McCormick and it’s likely they’ll be campaigning together soon.
“I’m very pleased that she endorsed us,” Myers said. “We do see ourselves working together in the last 40 days or so. We’ve got some plans underway right now. We’re not ready to announce them at this moment.”
Myers said he would also be open to keeping McCormick on as state superintendent if elected. McCormick said as early as 2018 that she would not seek another term once her current term in that position expires.
Another thing he says he would consider if elected is another statewide shutdown if the coronavirus pandemic sees another resurgence.
“I know we could have done a much better job, we should have done a much better job,” Myers said of the initial response to the pandemic in Indiana. “We’re too lax with respect to masks in Indiana. We truly need a mask mandate. We need to make sure Hoosiers understand the importance of wearing it.”
Election Day is just over five weeks away. Myers is hopeful that the state’s election will be a safe one as far as the pandemic is concerned and with regard to the worry of voter fraud.
