Patrick Expected To Call For Tax Hikes On Tobacco, Candy And Soda In Address To State

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Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick delivers his “State of the Commonwealth” address tonight (Monday), and the budget he rolls out this week is expected to depend on tax hikes on candy, soda and tobacco.  The Governor wants to increase the $2.51 per pack tax on cigarettes by 50 cents.
The Patrick Administration says increased tobacco revenue would help pay to enroll legal immigrants in a subsidized health care program called Commonwealth Care - as required by a State Supreme Court ruling this month. Patrick is also expected to propose adding the state's 6.25% sales tax to candy and soda, with most of those revenues dedicated to public health and preventative care services. But the Massachusetts Food association, a grocer’s trade group, says the proposals are unfortunate. Chris Flynn is the Association's president.
“Taxing people has not shown to work as a mechanism for getting people to eat better, and it's just a money grab for the state to get additional money. And consumers are already overburdened with taxes, we certainly don't need anymore”
Some retailers appear resigned to the tax increases. Roger Graham has been operating a package and check cashing store in downtown Springfield for 25 years.  He says he doesn’t think his customers will change their habits ...for now.
“Well, cigarettes, they're going to tax that as much as they...they're going to get it up to ten dollars a pack. Why they are picking soda and candy, I have no idea. Of all the items to pick, why not potato chips...where's it stop?”
Both tax increase proposals are expected to be included in the Governor's spending plan for fiscal 2013 that will be unveiled on Wednesday. Overall, Patrick wants to raise $260 million in additional revenues.