Representatives Curdy, Loge, and Olsen, Missoula County opposes SB 254 - Provide fees in statute for licensure as retail food establishment, being heard in House Business and Labor tomorrow morning. SB 254 will revert to placing fees for restaurants, grocery stores and bars back into Administrative Rule. Moving the fee setting to rule-making process was an adopted part of the comprehensive "Food Modernization Act" put together in the 2013-2015 interim and was reviewed by interested parties (state, local, food purveyors) represented on the DPHHS Food Safety Advisory Committee. The license fees do not cover the cost of the mandate, which places the burden on the local taxpayer. In Missoula, the fee covers 29 percent of the cost and this percentage dropping each year. Please oppose SB 254.
Missoula County supports SB 354 – Revise tobacco, nicotine, and tobacco product taxes for healthcare services, being heard on the Senate floor this morning. SB 354 changes the taxes on tobacco products to limit excess revenue from veterans’ cigarette taxes transferred to the general fund to $3 million, with amounts greater than $3 million transferred to the health and Medicaid initiatives within the State’s special revenue account. The increase in revenue will be used to raise direct care worker wages in Medicaid services, and an additional $200,000 per year will be allocated for tobacco cessation and control.
We would like the Missoula County Commissioners to support SB 354 to increase the tobacco tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack. This bill would increase the tax on cigarettes and increase the tax on all other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to a comparable amount. SB 354 would also generate millions in revenue to help restore deep proposed cuts to health services for seniors and people with disabilities.
It will also: •Reduce youth tobacco use in Montana by 15.8 percent. •Prevent an estimated 3,900 deaths due to tobacco use. •Save $5 million on spending to treat heart disease and cancer due to tobacco use within its first five years. •Save $292.97 million on long-term health spending due to tobacco use within its first five years. Every Montana household currently pays $791 in taxes each year because of smoking.
Montanans like it:
Montana voters support a tobacco tax increase to boost revenue, save money and lives. •77 percent favor increasing the tax on cigarettes to $1.50 per pack with an equivalent increase on other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. •61 percent are more likely to support candidates who favor increasing the tobacco tax.
Representative Hertz, Missoula County supports SB 354 – Revise tobacco, nicotine, and tobacco product taxes for healthcare services, being heard in House Taxation tomorrow morning. SB 354 will increase the tobacco tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack and the tax on all other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to a comparable amount. This will generate millions in revenue to help restore cuts to health services for seniors and people with disabilities. SB 354 will reduce youth tobacco use in Montana by 15.8 percent; prevent an estimated 3,900 deaths due to tobacco use; save $5 million on spending to treat heart disease and cancer due to tobacco use within its first five years; and save $292.97 million on long-term health spending due to tobacco use within its first five years. Please support SB 354.
Sending Wednesday (3/29) morning:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Curdy, Loge, and Olsen,
Missoula County opposes SB 254 - Provide fees in statute for licensure as retail food establishment, being heard in House Business and Labor tomorrow morning. SB 254 will revert to placing fees for restaurants, grocery stores and bars back into Administrative Rule. Moving the fee setting to rule-making process was an adopted part of the comprehensive "Food Modernization Act" put together in the 2013-2015 interim and was reviewed by interested parties (state, local, food purveyors) represented on the DPHHS Food Safety Advisory Committee. The license fees do not cover the cost of the mandate, which places the burden on the local taxpayer. In Missoula, the fee covers 29 percent of the cost and this percentage dropping each year.
Please oppose SB 254.
To be sent today (3/30) at 10:00am:
ReplyDeleteSenators,
Missoula County supports SB 354 – Revise tobacco, nicotine, and tobacco product taxes for healthcare services, being heard on the Senate floor this morning. SB 354 changes the taxes on tobacco products to limit excess revenue from veterans’ cigarette taxes transferred to the general fund to $3 million, with amounts greater than $3 million transferred to the health and Medicaid initiatives within the State’s special revenue account. The increase in revenue will be used to raise direct care worker wages in Medicaid services, and an additional $200,000 per year will be allocated for tobacco cessation and control.
Please support SB 354.
Email from Cindy Farr:
ReplyDeleteWe would like the Missoula County Commissioners to support SB 354 to increase the tobacco tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack. This bill would increase the tax on cigarettes and increase the tax on all other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to a comparable amount. SB 354 would also generate millions in revenue to help restore deep proposed cuts to health services for seniors and people with disabilities.
It will also:
•Reduce youth tobacco use in Montana by 15.8 percent.
•Prevent an estimated 3,900 deaths due to tobacco use.
•Save $5 million on spending to treat heart disease and cancer due to tobacco use within its first five years.
•Save $292.97 million on long-term health spending due to tobacco use within its first five years. Every Montana household currently pays $791 in taxes each year because of smoking.
Montanans like it:
Montana voters support a tobacco tax increase to boost revenue, save money and lives.
•77 percent favor increasing the tax on cigarettes to $1.50 per pack with an equivalent increase on other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
•61 percent are more likely to support candidates who favor increasing the tobacco tax.
Thank you!
Sending the following tomorrow (4/5):
ReplyDeleteRepresentative Hertz,
Missoula County supports SB 354 – Revise tobacco, nicotine, and tobacco product taxes for healthcare services, being heard in House Taxation tomorrow morning. SB 354 will increase the tobacco tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack and the tax on all other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to a comparable amount. This will generate millions in revenue to help restore cuts to health services for seniors and people with disabilities. SB 354 will reduce youth tobacco use in Montana by 15.8 percent; prevent an estimated 3,900 deaths due to tobacco use; save $5 million on spending to treat heart disease and cancer due to tobacco use within its first five years; and save $292.97 million on long-term health spending due to tobacco use within its first five years.
Please support SB 354.