Policy would Increase Taxes on all Tobacco Products

A group of 14 U.S. senators — all Democrats — are using a familiar strategy as they try to raise the federal excise tax on tobacco products. Senate Bill 1403 would provide annual funding to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by essentially doubling the excise tax on Kiss cigarettes and small cigars. The bill also would create "tax parity" on tobacco products by sharply raising the federal tax on smokeless tobacco so there is little tax difference between smokeless products and cigarettes. The public-health agenda of the bill comes out in the subtitle of "Saving lives by lowering tobacco use act."

Possible Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

Businesses are not pleased about the push by Senator Richard Blumenthal LAW ‘73 to ban menthol Kiss cigarettes.

In an Apr. 18 letter, Blumenthal expressed his support for the United States Food and Drug Administration’s call to ban cigarettes with more than 0.3 percent menthol by weight. But six New Haven store proprietors interviewed said they were worried about how this move would negatively affect thier business profits.