Laura Loomer, an activist from Florida who has been accused of promoting far-right conspiracy theories, recently took to X to lobby against a proposed two dollar increase in Indiana’s cigarette tax in a recent budget proposal by state legislators, accusing supporters of being a “small cabal of RINO Republicans.” (Photo Credit: Associated Press/Chris Szagola)
Indiana’s latest revenue forecast predicted a $2.4 billion shortfall, which the updated budget proposal made up for with an increase in taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, most of which was earmarked to cover Medicaid costs.
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Studies have shown that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and about 7% among youth.
“Huston’s plan would make Indiana’s sin taxes higher than those in Illinois, & even California. This regressive tax actually slams MAGA voters, as 67% of tobacco-using Hoosiers earn under $50k per year,” Loomer said. “Smokers who use vapes or electronic cigarettes won’t be exempt from the increased tax. The proposal includes increasing tax on electronic cigarettes from the current 15% to 31%, doubling the tax rate. Why are Republicans trying to piss off their voter base with more taxes?”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 21.8% of adults in Indiana reported currently smoke cigarettes in 2017, compared to 14% of adults in the U.S. 11,100 adults die in Indiana from smoking-related illnesses each year. Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States
“We all know cigarettes are bad for you. Lots of things are bad for you. Are we going to put tax hikes on everything we don’t like?” Loomer continued. “Maybe the GOP lawmakers in Indiana just need to learn how to balance a budget instead of using taxes as a babysitter… [and] supporting the Nanny State.”
Local Indianapolis radio host Tony Katz also criticized the proposed tax.
“A full throated attack on small business across Indiana,” Katz said. “Mom and pop cigar lounges will suffer because of it.”
“Increasing taxes on tobacco products is a win-win proposition,” according to the American Lung Association. “Significantly increasing tobacco product taxes results in fewer kids starting to smoke, and in more adults quitting while at the same time providing substantial revenue to fund important health [programs], as well as tobacco prevention programs.”