By Megan Nichols Anderson Independent-Mail
March 26, 2006

George Hunter loves a good cigarette.

He said his Marlboro Reds are the best stress relievers he's ever found. That's why Mr. Hunter, 57, of Anderson, said he wouldn't mind handing over 32 cents more per pack.

"Honestly, it's not like I'm dying to pay more, but I wouldn't mind paying that," he said.

Mr. Hunter and thousands of other cigarette smokers around the state might end up paying more if proposed South Carolina legislation is approved.

Rep. Paul Agnew, D-Abbeville, along with sponsors numbering in the fifties, has introduced a bill that would raise South Carolina's cigarette tax 32 cents, making the total tax 39 cents. The state's current tax is the nation's lowest. Funds garnered from the tax would benefit healthcare in the state, Mr. Agnew said.

The children's health insurance program would receive the first $20 million collected; it would be matched by $80 million in federal dollars. The remainder would help small business owners give their employees health insurance benefits. A component would also create a smoking-cessation program through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"I see a serious need to expand healthcare for children and workers who can't afford insurance and I think this is a logical solution to help provide care for people who need it," Mr. Agnew said.

But some of his Republican colleagues from the Upstate disagree.

Rep. Brian White, R-Anderson, said he would not support the tax increase. Mr. White said that from looking at the budget, he thought that Medicaid spending was sufficient.

"There are some needs in Medicaid, but I don't think this is the way to do it," he said.

Rep. Ronny Townsend, R-Anderson, also said he would not support the increase.

"Gov. (Mark) Sanford says that if we increase any taxes we've got to cut somewhere else and I don't want to do that," he said. "I think it's eventually going to happen, maybe next year, or maybe we'll have to wait until the governor changes his mind."

Both Mr. White and Mr. Townsend said they do not expect the cigarette tax to pass.

Mr. Agnew, however, said he thinks the bill has plenty of support and would pass - if it ever comes out of committee. He said raising healthcare funds was something that many people would support. A higher cigarette tax could also deter some people from smoking, Mr. Agnew said.

"I think there's certainly a need to discourage smoking, particularly among our youth," he said.

Lubna Rashid, an Anderson doctor, said the state needs to take measures to control smoking.

"Definitely, we need to have the social aptitude toward smoking changed," Dr. Rashid said. "Smoking cessation can be helped by increasing the taxes. They would think twice before starting if it's more expensive."

Copyright 2006, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.