Date:1/12/2010

Facing record budget deficits, 14 states turned to higher cigarette taxes to increase revenues. Nonetheless, only four states qualified for an "A" grade by imposing cigarette excise taxes of $2.68 or more. Of states that raised cigarette taxes, three (Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia cut funding for tobacco control significantly – by more than 25 percent.

Smokefree Air—Only three states, Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin, met the American Lung Association's Smokefree Air Challenge in 2009 by passing strong smokefree air laws. This was slightly higher than the two states meeting the challenge in 2008, but represents a slowdown from 2006-2007, when a total of 16 states and the District of Columbia met the challenge. Evidence has shown that in states with strong smokefree laws, fewer adults smoke. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia received "A" grades for smokefree air policies for 2009.

Tobacco Prevention and Control Programs—Only two states, Alaska and North Dakota, received "A" grades for funding tobacco prevention and control programs at 80 percent or more of the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Forty-one states and the District of Columbia received "F's" for spending at less than 50 percent of CDC-recommended levels. The District of Columbia and the following ten states slashed spending by 25 percent or more: Colorado,

SOURCE American Lung Association Copyright©2010 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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