Washington Post Examines Virginia Governor’s Anti-Smoking Proposals, Effect of Smoking on State

In first part of a two-part series examining the tobacco industry in the state of Virginia, the Washington Post on Sunday examined Gov. Tim Kaine's (D) "aggressive campaign to promote public health, perhaps at the expense of a homegrown industry that until last week was considered almost invulnerable." Last week, Kaine and state House Speaker William Howell (R) reached a compromise on a bill to ban smoking in restaurants and bars statewide.

Kaine also has proposed a plan to raise the current state cigarette tax by 30 cents per pack to 60 cents per pack to cover the costs of health care related to tobacco use. According to the Post, state legislators and residents are "wary" about tobacco taxes or smoking bans because Phillip Morris USA, a leading manufacturer of tobacco and cigarettes, is based in Richmond and provides thousands of jobs and generates revenue for the state (Kunkle, Washington Post, 2/8).

Health Effects
In the second part of the series, the Post examined the health effects and overall cost to the state associated with smoking in Virginia (Kunkle, Washington Post, 2/9). According to the Post, 19% of adults in Virginia smoke; 20% are men and 17% are women (Washington Post graphic, 2/9).

The Post reports that the number of tobacco-related deaths in Virginia exceeds 9,000 annually. In addition, more than 9,000 youths in Virginia begin smoking each year. Second-hand smoke results in 1,000 deaths annually in the state, the Post reports (Washington Post, 2/9).

The Post reports that the total annual cost to Virginia for health care related to smoking is $2.08 billion, while health care costs related to exposure to second-hand smoke cost the state $118.8 million annually. The state's Medicaid program spends $401 million annually on health care costs related to tobacco use (Washington Post graphic, 2/9).

Advocates of a smoking ban and increased taxes believe the proposals would discourage people from beginning to smoke and encourage current smokers to stop. Studies have shown that tobacco use decreases by 7% among youth and by 2% among adults for every 10% increase in the cost of cigarettes, according to the Post. In addition, proponents of increasing the cigarette tax say it could help reduce the state's $148 million Medicaid funding deficit (Washington Post, 2/9).