November 16th, 2012 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Health Care For All Coalition has launched a campaign calling for the increase in the state’s tobacco tax by a dollar to reduce teen smoking and fund public health care programs. Coalition President Vinnie DeMarco says that smoking has been reduced by 32 percent overall due to the last three hikes in the cigarette tax. A press conference was held this week in Montgomery County to make the announcement. The coalition says that there are over 500 education, community and religious organizations plus businesses who have signed on to endorse the initiative.  An OpinionWorks poll distributed by the coalition shows broad support for the tax increase which DeMarco says is a public health revenue measure. He said statistics show that the tax hikes are proving effective