cheapmarlboro

House Speaker Bobby Harrell tells us he has concerns about adding to the swollen Medicaid program and believes a better use would be to help the uninsured by providing tax credits to offset health insurance premiums, particularly for small business employees. That concept also was recommended by a Senate subcommittee and has the benefit of encouraging the free market and requiring an employee contribution. The cigarette tax is a logical way to support health care for low-income residents. Smoking contributes greatly to health problems in South Carolina, many of which are treated at public expense. Health advocates for the increased tax estimate that 35,000 fewer South Carolinians will be smokers if the tax is increased. Many will be young people. There’s little doubt that the discount cigarettes tax bill is headed to a House-Senate conference committee, and conferees should pay particular attention to legitimate concerns on the cost of increasing the level of Medicaid eligibility. The public health value of imposing the additional tax, which would be about half the national average, says conferees shouldn’t go home without a plan.