Jackson Free Press

Money and where to find it is the big issue being discussed in the 2005 special session. Supporters for one popular means to get the money mobbed the south side of the Capitol May 17, calling for a $1 increase in the tobacco tax. The group of about 50 supporters consisted of American Cancer Society volunteers, state residents and cancer survivors.

Robert Morris, state vice president for the American Cancer Society, said the answer to multiple issues facing the state was obvious to those who would take the problem seriously.

"About 2,182 lung cancer cases will be diagnosed in Mississippi this year. About 2,070 deaths to lung cancer will be in Mississippi and cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer," Morris said. "The tobacco tax is a life-saving answer right in front of them, which will save countless lives. It will help close the gap with our fiscal problems and help save lives."

Morris said American Cancer Society figures show a direct connection between the cost of a pack of cigarettes and smokers willing to commit to quitting. A higher price, said Morris, also offered "a little extra encouragement" to prevent young people from picking up the habit in the first place.

American Cancer Society volunteers also delivered to Barbour's State Capitol office several banners sporting the signatures of hundreds of Mississippi supporters of the $1-a-pack tobacco tax, collected at American Cancer Society's Relay for Life events and fund raisers that took place across the state.

"Governor Barbour said he will support any legislation where there appears to be a lot of support. Well, recent studies show 80 percent of those polled support a dollar increase in the cost of cigarettes. Also, we know the majority of our legislators support this legislation if given the opportunity to vote on it," Morris said.

American Cancer Society volunteer Steve Casteel said the tobacco tax should instead be called "a medical savings plan." Casteel said American Cancer Society statistics, garnered from insurance figures from across the state, estimated that the tax would eliminate almost $600 million in future medical expenses and that about 36,000 children would be discouraged from smoking.

Barbour has stuck firm to his "no new taxes" mantra, despite the 2004 Stennis Institute of Government poll showing that a majority of Mississippians were in favor of the tax when pit against under-funding health care and education in the state. House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, has joined the largely Democrat-dominated House in approving a cigarette tax. The anti-any-tax Senate and Barbour, however, have stalled House propositions for the tax increase.

Casteel said that Barbour's integrity in a no-new-taxes policy brought to him the image of a traffic light.

"Traffic lights are there to provide order to traffic flow, but there are times when emergencies arise and the rules have to be set aside. The other day as I sat at a light, I watched as people parted and let an emergency vehicle go through the red light and respond to the emergency. Principles are great. It's important to have integrity, but there are times when emergencies arise and we need to be about the business of saving lives," Casteel said.

Cancer survivor Kelly Lindsey, of Ridgeland, said the call for the tobacco tax was not about raising taxes. "We're not in the business of raising taxes," Lindsey said. "We're in the business of saving lives."

Children's Defense Fund representative Pam Shaw said the tax was also about fair economics, saying Mississippi's tax system, with its comparatively low state taxes, forced up the cost of local and sales taxes, causing a regressive system that hurt middle- to low-income classes.

"We don't want this budget to be balanced on the backs of the poor," Shaw said. "So the more revenue with the exception of sales tax, the better. There's no question that 200 million additional dollars would make a huge difference in this state."

It is unlikely that the possibility of a tobacco tax will come up in the special session because Barbour is in control of the agenda. Barbour, according to his spokesman Pete Smith, is sticking to his guns on no new taxes throughout the special session.

"The governor doesn't govern through polls (like the Stennis poll). The governor ran on 'no new taxes.' The governor was elected on 'no new taxes,' and he has repeatedly stated that he's against raising anybody's taxes. Period," Smith said.