Business owners voice support for governor's tobacco tax plan

Thursday, April 29th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Three small-business owners joined Governor Brad Henry Wednesday to give support of his plan to raise the tax on tobacco products to fund expanded health care coverage.

The governor's plan would raise the cigarette tax by about 52 cents per pack. The money raised would be matched with federal funds to provide health care coverage to thousands of uninsured Oklahomans.

Henry wants the proposal to go to a statewide vote.

Business owners from Minco, Allen and Ardmore voiced their support for the plan, which would provide subsidies to businesses struggling to buy health insurance for their employees.

One business owner said he could only expand jobs at his company with a program like the one the governor proposed.

Henry's plan is stalled in a joint House-Senate conference committee.