Yesterday, Raise It for Health held a rally at the
Statehouse in support of House
Bill 1380, which would reduce smoking in Indiana by increasing the state’s
cigarette tax. Speakers addressed the impact smoking has on the cost of doing
business in the state. Indiana’s current smoking rate of 21 percent costs the
state $5.4 billion annually in health care costs and lost productivity. Recent
data from Bellwether Research and Consulting shows that Indiana business
leaders support the cigarette tax increase due to rising health care costs. Read
more.