More than three years after President Obama signed legislation increasing the federal cigarette tax from 39 cents a pack to $1.01 a pack, rates of smoking have dropped.
According to an analysis by USA Today, the decrease in smoking can be seen especially among teens, poor people and those dependent on government insurance. The dip in smokers came after the president signed the tax hike — which was intended to finance expanded healthcare for children — in early 2009 and it went into effect on April 1, 2009.
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