[PAA-Discuss] Help SCHIP and Increase the Cigarette Tax

[Juli3 at aol.com]

 (http://www.lungusa.org/)                   
Help  SCHIP and Increase the Cigarette Tax   
Dear Juli, 
 
This week, the U.S. Senate is expected  to vote to increase the federal tax 
on  cigarettes from 39-cents per pack to $1.00 per  pack, an increase of 
61-cents per pack, for the  State Children's Health Insurance Program. This  
bipartisan legislation passed last Congress  twice with an ultimate veto from the  
President.   
Last Tuesday, the U.S. House of  Representatives passed the bill by 289 to  
139.  
Increasing the federal cigarette tax is a  win-win for children's health: in 
addition to  providing much-needed medical care for our  nation's low-income, 
uninsured youth - including  those living with lung diseases such as asthma -  
this substantial increase of $.61 will have the  added benefit of reducing 
youth smoking.  
Please ask your Senators to vote for  this important public health 
legislation  today. 


 (http://lungaction.org/campaign/SCHIP_2009/w56essk9lj7id8be?) 
Send  a letter to the following decision  maker(s): 
Your  Senators 
Below  is the sample letter: 
Subject: Please Vote Yes on SCHIP and the  Cigarette Tax Increase 
Dear [decision maker name automatically  inserted here], 
I am writing to urge you to vote yes on the  SCHIP bill, which will increase 
the federal  cigarette tax by $.61 as a way to fund the State  Children's 
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)  Program. Increasing the federal tobacco tax to  
pay for SCHIP is a win-win for children's  health. 

The 61-cent increase will have a  significant impact on public health and 
prevent  kids from starting to smoke. By substantially  increasing the federal 
tobacco tax, tobacco use  among children and adults can be reduced, saving  
lives and preventing the incidence of many  chronic diseases, including asthma and 
other  lung diseases. 

Increased spending on  children's health insurance is a very sound  
investment in our nation's future, particularly  for those children living with asthma. 
A  February 2006 study in the journal Pediatrics  found that children with 
asthma who were  enrolled in SCHIP had fewer asthma attacks and  needed fewer 
medical visits. 

I urge you  to vote "yes" on this legi slation when it comes  to the floor 
and support an increase in the  federal cigarette tax of 61 cents to pay for  
SCHIP.  
Sincerely,

Juli  Kring

 (http://lungaction.org/campaign/SCHIP_2009/w56essk9lj7id8be?)     Take  
Action!   
Instructions:
_Click here to take action_ 
(http://lungaction.org/campaign/SCHIP_2009/w56essk9lj7id8be?)  on  this issue 
Tell-A-Friend:
Visit  the web address below to tell your friends about  this. 
_Tell-a-Friend!_ 
(http://lungaction.org/campaign/SCHIP_2009/forward/w56essk9lj7id8be?)   
What's  At Stake:
The 61-cent increase in the cigarette tax  will have a significant impact on 
public health  and prevent kids from starting to smoke.  Additional funds 
raised will mean that an  additional 4 million kids – including those with  lung 
diseases – will have health  insurance.   Increased spending on children's 
health  insurance is a very sound investment in our  nation's future, particularly 
for those children  living with asthma.  

Campaign  Expiration Date:
January  25, 2009   
 
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