Buying a pack of smokes could help pay for a child's health care if Congress passes a bill that would more than double the tax on cigarettes.
The bill would raise the federal tax on cigarettes from 39 cents per pack to $1 per pack.
But Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., said the real goal of the proposed federal tax increase is to continue providing affordable health care for children of low-income families.
"The primary focus is to cover children," he said. "We're trying to find a way to pay for the increases in health insurance and the only way to do it is with a tax such as this or by borrowing money like we've done in the past."
The higher cigarette tax would fund a $35 billion increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Mitchell said, and would cover health insurance costs for a total of 10 million children nation-wide.
The program has been in effect since 1997, he said, but will expire in September 2008.
President George W. Bush vetoed a similar bill last month and said he will veto new legislation if it calls for an increase in the federal cigarette tax, Mitchell added.
"Every time (the health care program) comes up, he changes his reasons for vetoing it," he said. "He now uses the tax as an excuse to veto the program."
But Mitchell said the bill has overwhelming support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.
"I think most people realize tobacco causes a lot of our health problems," he added. "I don't think people will have a problem voting for an increase on the cigarette tax because of those health concerns."
Doug Schwimer, a justice studies senior, said he agrees and is in favor of an increase in cigarette taxes.
"I don't think it's fair for non-smokers to deal with second-hand smoke all the time," he added. "Whatever we can do to cut down on smoking is good."
But Kenneth Anthony, a theater sophomore and smoker, said he is opposed to the measure.
"I think it's a really stupid idea," he said. "As the amount of smokers constantly decrease, where are they going to continue to get that funding from when people stop smoking?"
Anthony said he thought the proposed bill unfairly targeted smokers.
"Why should a smoker have to pay for somebody else's kids?" he said.
The two legislative bodies are currently in a conference session crafting the revised bill, Mitchell said.
The measure will have to pass in the House and the Senate before it goes before Bush, he added, but it will be presented to the president before the 2008 election.
If Bush rejects the measure, Mitchell said he thinks the House and Senate will override the veto with a two-thirds vote.
"There's more than enough votes to override his veto in the Senate," Mitchell added. "And we are just a few votes short in the House."
Reach the reporter at: sarah.g.owen@asu.edu.
