Kansas panel to recommend statewide smoking ban, tobacco tax increase

Publication Date: 2007-10-15

• Author:David Klepper
• Publication:Kansas City (MO) Star

Talk of banning public smoking in Kansas has been revived — again.

The Kansas Health Policy Authority Board probably will recommend a ban and a 50-cent per-pack tobacco tax increase when it votes on final recommendations today. Lawmakers told the panel to research solutions to the state’s health-care ills. A final report will be submitted next month.

Neither idea is new to lawmakers: Bills to increase tobacco taxes and implement a statewide ban have failed before. Usually, they never make it to a vote.