Expanding Children’s Health Insurance and Raising Federal Tobacco Taxes Helps Low-Income Families

Publication Date: October 2007

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

In explaining President’s Bush’s veto of bipartisan legislation to strengthen the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and pay for it by raising federal tobacco tax rates, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino claimed that the tobacco increase would primarily be paid for by low-income people, since “the majority of smokers are low-income.” She also claimed that the legislation would create “a middle-class entitlement” Both claims are incorrect.