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Military's tobacco discount: Up in smoke
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MILITARY_TOBACCO?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULTMilitary's tobacco discount: Up in smoke
By DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
Jul 15, 12:22 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The familiar image of a battle-hardened member of the military smoking a cigarette may become a little less common.
The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee on Tuesday approved a $549.3 billion defense spending bill that would eliminate the 25 percent discount that members of the armed services enjoy when buying tobacco products at commissaries and elsewhere, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the subcommittee, said studies show that tobacco use is higher in the military. He said that translates into more illnesses and health care costs of $1.6 billion a year.
"There is no reason these deadly products are subsidized," Durbin said.