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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Walker Budget Proposal Seeks $50 'Sin Tax' on Public Workers who Smoke

Although I think it's great that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wants to help people quit smoking through a disincentive in the amount of $50 a year, I think that it is largely proven that sin taxes do not appear to work.  What they do is penalize people who are in a lower income category without providing them with any direct benefit.

Another criticism that I have is that the Governor has identified smoking - and not obesity, gun ownership, driving, or using alcohol (all risk factors for increased health costs) - as what he wants to target.  It should be noted that of all these risks, smoking is one that is more likely to be used by people who are poorer.

Link:  http://news.wpr.org/post/walker-budget-charges-smoking-state-workers-50-insurance-fee

Friday, February 15, 2013

Analyst says Walker's partial expansion of Medicaid won't work

People that are in poverty will not be able to pay $19 a month for health care.  That's not what people who are actually poor will spend money on.  They will spend that money on food and gas - essentials - not something that they can avoid.  Even insurance insiders like the one quoted here agree.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ukraine bans indoor smoking, Russia set to follow

This is great news for anyone who's lived or lives in the former USSR.  Smoking related illnesses are a major scourge, and smoking rates reach upward of 50 to 60 percent among some demographic groups.  As of December 16, 2012, Ukraine has banned all indoor smoking in public places, and now Russia is set to follow soon.

Link:  http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukraine-bans-indoor-smoking-317780.html and http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-moves-toward-strict-smoking-limits/2013/01/25/4d66e276-6720-11e2-9e1b-07db1d2ccd5b_story.html