The primary PCPA legislative initiative for the 2007/08 session is to achieve passage of the dedicated alcohol tax (House Bill 1032 and Senate Bill 870). While a number of legislators in both chambers have signed on as co-sponsors of the bills (69 in the House, 22 in the Senate), there are still many that have not yet done so. The attached list (Excel format) includes the names of the legislators that have signed on this session, legislators that co-sponsored last session, and legislators newly elected this session.
The Dedicated Alcohol Tax Initiative/Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Prevention Fund legislation seeks to have the existing tax on wine and spirits, often referred to as the Johnstown Flood Tax or The Emergency Tax, redirected and dedicated to fund existing drug and alcohol treatment services. The current tax is 18 percent and generates over $200 million annually. Some opponents of the tax have discussed the commonwealth eliminating the tax or dedicating it to other purposes. PCPA and supporters believe this tax should be dedicated to existing state-funded drug and alcohol treatment services and provide much needed new funding for services. The plan is revenue neutral in the first year and could generate as much as $10 million annually in subsequent years. It is critical that another year not go by before passing this legislation. If the initiative had passed when initially proposed three years ago, in addition to having more secure line items, it would have generated an estimated $30+ million in new/additional funds for drug and alcohol treatment services.
Your assistance is needed NOW to do several things:
1. Contact your senator and ask him/her to write letters to Sen. Edwin “Ted” Erickson, majority chair of the Public Health and Welfare Committee, requesting that the committee move Senate Bill 870. It is especially important to get co-sponsors to write to Sen. Erickson.
2. If your legislator has already signed on to co-sponsor, call and thank him/her. Let him/her know that we need their continued support and the support of their colleagues.
3. If your legislator has not yet signed on to co-sponsor, please contact him/her as soon as possible and ask for their support. Then contact friends and colleagues and ask them to send a message to their legislators requesting the same support support.
Information packets are available at PCPA which include the Dedicated Alcohol Tax Initiative Position Paper, copies of the bills, a list of frequently asked questions, and other resources. If you have any questions please contact Lynn Cooper or Melissa DiSanto Simmons at the association. Thank you for your help!
