City of Baltimore - File #: 11-0003R

• File #: 11-0003R
• Version: 0
• Name: Request for State Action - Healthy Maryland Initiative
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 12/8/2011
• In control: Health Committee
• Final action: 1/30/2012
• Title: Request for State Action - Healthy Maryland Initiative FOR the purpose of expressing support for increasing the state cigarette tax by $1 per pack, along with a similar increase to the tax on other tobacco products, with the revenue from these tax increases to fund: the state tobacco control program; the state health improvement process and other community based health initiatives including those that address childhood obesity or long term care for seniors; and improved access to health care services for Maryland families.
• Sponsors: Mary Pat Clarke, Bill Henry, Robert Curran, Helen L. Holton, Sharon Green Middleton, William "Pete" Welch
• Indexes: Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/30/2012	0	Health Committee	Recommended Favorably
1/30/2012	0	City Council	Adopted
1/9/2012	0	Health Committee	Scheduled for a Public Hearing
12/13/2011	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
12/8/2011	0	City Council	Introduced
12/8/2011	0	City Council	Assigned

* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*

CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke



A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for State Action - Healthy Maryland Initiative

FOR the purpose of expressing support for increasing the state cigarette tax by $1 per pack, along with a similar increase to the tax on other tobacco products, with the revenue from these tax increases to fund: the state tobacco control program; the state health improvement process and other community based health initiatives including those that address childhood obesity or long term care for seniors; and improved access to health care services for Maryland families.
body

WHEREAS, Over the last decade Maryland’s smoking rate has declined by 32%, double the national average, saving over 70,000 people from preventable tobacco caused deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs, in large part as a result of three tobacco tax increases.

WHEREAS, Tobacco still kills tens of thousands of Marylanders, costing us hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs.

WHEREAS, Maryland has not raised its tax on non cigarette tobacco products since 1999, and the use of cigars and smokeless tobacco products, especially by children and teens, has increased during the last decade.

WHEREAS, While Maryland has made significant progress in expanding health care in recent years, hundreds of thousands of Marylanders remain uninsured or underinsur...