Oklahomans like cigarette tax

<br> <br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two out of three Oklahomans support a 52-cent cigarette tax increase to expand health care services, a recent survey showed. <br><br>The survey, conducted Feb. 15-20 by Wilson

Wednesday, March 17th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Two out of three Oklahomans support a 52-cent cigarette tax increase to expand health care services, a recent survey showed.

The survey, conducted Feb. 15-20 by Wilson Research Strategies, also showed many Oklahomans believe school and governmental policies can be effective in fighting childhood obesity.

The examination of Oklahomans' perceptions on current issues facing the state was made as part of the company's regular quarterly survey.

Wilson Research Strategies is a marketing research and management consulting firm located in McLean, Va., with offices in Oklahoma City and Washington, D.C.

Telephone interviews were conducted with 300 registered voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 5.6 percentage points.

Sixty-four percent of those surveyed said they backed a cigarette tax increase linked to health initiatives proposed by Gov. Brad Henry.

They were asked the following question: ``Do you support or oppose increasing the cigarette tax in Oklahoma to help pay for health insurance for the uninsured, funding the state's Level One Trauma Center and a cancer research center.

Only 34 percent said they opposed the increase, while two percent were undecided or refused to answer.

The Oklahoma House last week passed a measure proposing a statewide vote on a net 52-cent tobacco tax increase to fund Henry's health program. It was only in the form of a shell bill, however, and is headed for a joint conference committee.

A bill to require schools to have nutritious drinks and snacks in vending machines has been defeated in the Senate, but the Wilson survey showed most Oklahomans believe government and schools have a role in fighting childhood obesity.

Thirty percent of respondents supported increased government involvement in the education of parents on the issue, while 25 percent backed changes in school policy. Nine percent backed nutrition content postings in restaurants and 3 percent supported increased taxes on certain foods. Fifteen percent felt ``some other method'' would be most effective.

When asked what area of lawsuit reform is most important in Oklahoma, 40 percent said medical lawsuits, 24 percent said workers' compensation changes and 12 percent said class action lawsuits. Twenty-three percent had no opinion.

A majority of those responding to the survey believe landline telephone service providers such as SBC are in direct competition with wireless, satellite and Internet communications service providers.

SBC has been pushing a bill to take the company out from under regulation by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.