Two candidates for Comptroller announced support for the non-profit Healthy Maryland Initiative’s proposed $1 cigarette tax increase Wednesday.
“We’re talking about saving some lives by stopping people from smoking, particularly youngg teenagers,” said challenger Peter Franchot, of Montgomery County, who held a media briefing Wednesday to announce his support.
Rival Janet Owens, the Anne Arundel County Executive, released a statement Wednesday backing the proposal.
The Comptroller enforces the state tobacco tax and can pressure the legislature on tax-related initiatives.
Under the program, revenues would be used to fund smoking prevention programs and provide health care coverage to 50,000 uninsured Marylanders.
Spokespeople for incumbent William Schaeffer and his campaign office did not immediately respond to questions about his stance on the proposal.
“He backed it in 1999, we don’t know why he hasn’t” now, said Healthy Maryland President Vincent DeMarco. “We still hope he will.”
