New Jersey Governor Proposes Cigarette Tax Hike

Governor Phil Murphy proposed a $0.65 tax increase per cigarette pack in his 2021 budget, aligning New Jersey's tax with New York and Connecticut. The tax aims to generate $218 million for health programs, raising the average pack price to $12. However, some lawmakers argue against the increase, citing declining smoking rates. According to the CDC, US smoking rates dropped from 20.9% in 2005 to 13.7% in 2018.

What concerns do some lawmakers have regarding the tax increase on cigarettes?

According to the CDC, how has the smoking rate in the United States changed from 2005 to 2018?