Letter: Tobacco tax bill has several benefits

Talk about it

Members of Southwest C.H.I.P (Community Health Improvement Program) would like to ask state lawmakers to look past the word “tax” as they consider a tobacco tax bill that is filled with benefits for Minnesotans, including those that we all can support.

First, increasing the price of tobacco will have an impact on long-term health care costs. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and disease. It costs Minnesotans nearly $3 billion each year in excess health care costs, which increases health care premiums and impacts business growth. Even non-smokers pay the price of tobacco use.

The bill recently introduced by Senator Nelson and Representative Benson also seeks to repay money owed to our public schools and lower property taxes for businesses. We need to consider all options that will make Minnesota more competitive.

Bottom line, this is a good policy because it positively impacts public health, education and the state’s economy. We hope lawmakers will move beyond hard and fast principles and do what is best for Minnesota businesses and citizens.

Cheryl Avenel-Navara, Victoria Blanchette, Paula Bloemendaal, Wendy Donkersloot, Lori Dudley, Nancy Jo Hambleton, Pete Navara, Ruth Nystrom, Ryan Seykora, Richard Sudmeier, MD Suzanne Sudmeier

Southwest C.H.I.P (Nobles County)

Tags: opinion, letters, politics, health