Tobacco smoke may soon be banned from bars in Oregon, but the revenue from cigarettes could possibly provide more than 100,000 uninsured children with needed health insurance. To address both of these issues, the Oregon Legislature is working on two bills that would address both of these issues.
A smoking ban in all public spaces and workplaces could become a reality for Oregonians after the Senate passed Senate Bill 571 last month.
Currently, only three cities in Oregon have smoking bans: Eugene, Corvallis and Philomath.
The American Lung Association states that secondhand smoke contains more than 200 poisons – including more than 43 chemicals that are known to cause cancer – and causes an estimated 800 deaths a year in Oregon.
The bill has recently been amended so that cigar bars may sell alcohol so long as they ban smoking all other tobacco products and have a maximum seating capacity of 40 persons, among other stipulations.
Race courses may also allow smoking unless prohibited by the licensed meet operator.
The bill is in committee, and it is expected to head to the House for vote sometime this week.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski has been trying to create a Healthy Kids Plan that will provide health insurance for nearly 120,000 uninsured kids in Oregon.
With rising health care costs, many of Oregon’s youth are denied access to the basic benefits of preventative health care and early treatment for injuries and disease.
To protect the health of Oregon’s children, the Governor and legislature have proposed a cigarette tax, House Bill 2967, to fund the program.
“My Healthy Kids Plan ensures that all children receive health care, including dental and mental health benefits, and that all working families can provide health care for their children,” the Governor said in a press release. “Oregon has 117,000 children who will get help under this plan – more than all the children now enrolled in the school districts of Portland, Eugene, Coos Bay, Medford, Klamath Falls, Bend and Pendleton combined.”
The state tobacco tax will increase 84.5 cents per pack, rising from $1.18 to $2.02.
The money collected from the tax would fund various state subsidized health insurance plans as well as tobacco-use prevention and education programs.
Children and pregnant women in families with annual incomes of less than $52,000 for a family of four will be covered under a health benefit plan so long as they have been uninsured for 60 days preceding enrollment.
The bill has had a passage through the House because of the stringent opposition by Republicans to increase the tax. The Senate has passed a resolution that will put the cigarette tax on a special November election if the bill does not pass out of the House.
“We’re the adults in the world,” the Governor said in his press release. “It is our responsibility to look out for the health and well being of our children – including providing quality health care so each child comes to school ready to learn and succeed.”
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