Smokers Employed By State May Soon Have To Pay Surcharge

State workers who smoke would soon have to pay a $50 monthly surcharge under a plan approved by the legislature’s budget committee.

The plan, introduced as part of Governor Scott Walker’s budget passed on a 13-3 vote with the support of committee co-chair Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette):

“Having worked in the private sector and in insurance, this is very consistent with how the costs are passed along to people that have behaviors that are – let’s just face it – more likely to create additional health care costs in the future.”

Lawmakers got rid of another part of the governor’s budget that would have dropped workers from state health insurance if they lie about smoking. Instead, the committee would let the state recoup surcharge payments from employees who lie about using tobacco products.