Senator Aguon Calls For Legislative Vote On Doubling Tobacco Tax ASAP
Guam - The revised version of a bill that would double taxes on all tobacco products calls for an immediate vote rather than waiting to hold a referendum on the issue.
Health Committee Chairman Senator Frank Aguon, Jr. released his Committee's report on Bill 150 over the weekend.
Under the amended proposed measure, the committee recommended the passage of Bill No. 150 (COR) should be decided by the 30th Legislature as soon as possible and should no longer wait for referendum in November 2010 as suggested earlier.
Introduced by Senator B.J. Cruz , Bill No. 150 (COR), as Substituted is now titled as “An Act To Amend §26603 (a), (b), and (c) of Article 6, Chapter 26, Title 11 of the Guam Code Annotated, Relative to Increasing To Tobacco Taxes, The Healthy Futures Fund, and Creating a Guam Cancer Trust Account.
“As repeatedly stated during the public hearing, as well as in written testimonies, that the increasing rate of smoking, associated healthcare costs, human suffering, and burden upon the government needs to be mitigated in a timely, decisive manner,” Senator Aguon stated in his recommendation.
“The bold, sound and decisive decision are needed to be made by lawmakers in the interest of protecting and promoting Guam’s public health,” the lawmaker from Yona added.
The committee also recommended that revenues to be realized have to be allocated by percentages via the Healthy Futures Fund. This should include important programs and agencies such as Guam Memorial Hospital, Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Education through the Department of Public Health & Social Services, Guam Cancer Trust Fund and other related various programs.
The amendment will also add new subsection (e) relative to establishment of a Guam Cancer Trust Fund to provide financial assistance to organizations that provide patient directed services for the prevention of cancers, its treatment, diagnosis and other services as maybe required.
