By DANIELLE ZULKOSKY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
The Indiana cigarette tax went up from $1 to $3 on Tuesday, angering some Hoosiers who think this tax is too targeted.
“That’s too much,” Laura Shenkins said.
Many Hoosiers were not happy about the cigarette tax increase that came from the Indiana legislature and Republican Gov. Mike Braun. Hoosiers on Monday afternoon told News 8 that tax hike is just another financial hit against the working class.
Gage Hessman said, “I just think it’s another thing to screw over the middle class and working people. I just think it’s kind of wrong. We’re already paying outrageous money for everything else.”
Mary Lay said, “It’s not right to tax people just because they smoke cigarettes. They say it’s because of the health care cost. So is overweight people. That’s a choice, too, right? But, you don’t see them having to pay extra money. So fair is fair.”
Laura Shenkins said about the tax hike that she’s “upset. Mad about it. Very angry.”
Proponents of the tax hike said it was meant to encourage people to quit smoking while increasing tax dollars on Hoosiers who do not quit. But, some say, they plan to keep up their smoking habits for the time being.
Shenkins said, “No, I’m gonna keep on smoking the way I smoke because I like to smoke.”
Cassandra Wilkins said, “I don’t necessarily agree with it because there’s other things I feel like they could be putting taxes on.”
With the tax hike, Indiana is among the 10 states with the highest cigarette taxes.
Also, the tax hike comes as cigarette use has decreased in Indiana, according to the state health department, which cites a significant decline since 2022. Surveys show 14.5 percent of adults in Indiana use cigarettes while the nationwide average sits just above 12 percent.
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/indiana-cigarette-tax-increase.
I’ve seen gov braun change from his maga talk before becoming gov and I voted for him but won’t vote for him again, I think k he’s hurt seniors and disabled with high prices through taxes, a 200% increase is an example of extreme and someones getting their pockets filled imo, o don’t think it’s about health and what’s the next shoe to drop? Groceries and gas are high enough without adding more taxes, everything president Trump did in his bbb gov braun undone by all his laws, if he thinks he’ll make a run fo president in 28 all i can say is NO WAY! Sorry, he lost my vote.
I did not support the tax on cigarettes and have claimed so in writing. It is good to see others are finally complaining about the extra tax. It seems discriminating but the remark from Mary Lay gave me a chuckle about fat people are not paying a fat tax. Watch out, we may have to endure being forced to get on a weight scale at sidewalk intersections and pay a fat tax.
Why don’t they raise all the taxes on candy and fast food and maybe so many people won’t be overweight.