increased health care premiums to support smoking related health issues.

Senator Bunch, does that not infringe on my rights?

Several years ago, all states received millions of dollars from a lawsuit against the tobacco industry. It was not law, but it was very highly suggested that a portion of the money be used for anti-tobacco education in each state. Tennessee was the only state in the nation not to use a single cent for education.

California has the lowest percentage of smokers in the Untied States. They have a proven three step plan to keep teenagers from beginning to smoke:

1. Educate - comprehensive anti-smoking education starts in the primary grades and continues through high school

2. Make it hard to do - Smoking is banned in almost every public place in California

3. Make it expensive - In California, a pack of Marlboro averages over $7 per pack, with much of the increased tax used for their anti-smoking programs, as well as treating the health issues of smoking.

Many other states such as New York and New Jersey have passed high taxes in the past couple of years resulting in $7 to $8 a pack prices, and are already seeing the number of smokers dwindle.

I am proud of our lawmakers who stepped up and did the right thing, but it is just a start. Some of the new tax needs to not only be earmarked for education, but specifically for anti-smoking education. The forty cent per pack tax increase is good, but it still falls well below the national average.

We have to remember, most current smokers are so chronically addicted it is almost impossible for them to quit. We have to keep our focus on preventing new smokers, and the lawmakers in our state have at least taken a step in the right direction, even if it was for the wrong reason.
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