[HM2Viking]

Governors are proposing tax increases to pay for expanded access to health care.
From: http://www.stateline.org/live/detail...ntentId=190382

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) is calling for an 84.5-cent increase to the state’s $1.18-a-pack cigarette tax to provide health insurance to uninsured children.
http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/summary_health.shtml
Cornerstone 1: Secure the state resources needed to leverage additional federal dollars that can support affordable health insurance options for all Oregonchildren – by equalizing Oregon’s tobacco tax rates with those now in effect in Washingtonstate.

Although the state now provides health insurance through the Oregon Health Plan to 225,000 children in low-income families, there are 60,000 more children eligible for this insurance who are not enrolled in OHP. The current state budget falls far short of being able to cover most of these 60,000 children, nor does it have the resources to be able to expand OHP coverage to more children who could qualify under existing federal guidelines. The Governor will secure the resources for this program as follows.

• Establish tobacco tax parity with Washington State. The Governor supports an increase in Oregon’s tobacco taxes to match the tobacco tax rates now in effect in Washington State. This would require an increase of $0.845 per pack of cigarettes to $2.025 per pack. With this increase, and a proportionate increase in the tax that applies non-cigarette tobacco products, the state would secure an estimated $150-170 million in new net revenues for a full biennium after adjusting for projected reductions in cigarette sales.
• Dedicate new tobacco tax revenues to health care. The Governor is committed to dedicating at least 60% of the proceeds of the net revenues from tobacco tax equalization to support the creation of affordable health care options for children. Another 10% would go to smoking cessation efforts. Other portions would be allocated for expansion of OHP for adults and for other health care initiatives.
• Secure new federal Medicaid funds for children’s health care. Existing agreements with the federal government allow Oregon to receive Medicaid matching funds for children in families with incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. (For a family of four, this is $40,000 in annual income.) The state will apply for a waiver to receive Medicaid matching funds for children in families with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level, which is the maximum approved in other states.

Cornerstone 2: Create and oversee an insurance program that will provide comprehensive health coverage for children throughout Oregon.

Cornerstone 3: Use the state’s resources to ensure that premiums for the Healthy Kids insurance plan will be affordable for all families in Oregon.

Cornerstone 4: Use the state’s resources to promote cost-effective care and bring health care to children through our schools and community facilities.

http://www.in.gov/apps/utils/calenda...96&Elist=87673
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) wants the state’s 55.5-cent-a-pack cigarette tax to go up by at least 25 cents to fund health insurance coverage and anti-smoking programs.

http://www.state.de.us/governor/news...html#TopOfPage
Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (D) has called for adding 5 cents to the state’s 23-cent-a-gallon fuel tax to help pay for road construction and 45 cents to the current 55-cents-a-pack cigarette tax to pay for new programs to reduce infant mortality and improve children’s health

Wisconsin: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journa...d=19&prid=2501

Connecticut: http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/v...=2791&q=332098

Its nice to see governors being responsible for governing and building concensus.