While I am not in favor of social engineering via taxation, I am all in favor of low income earners paying their “fair share”. Or at least putting some skin in the game. If it is via cig taxes, so be it.
It’s a user tax too, which has an element of fairness built in. Don’t want to pay it? Don’t smoke.
I understand your point, however, cigarette smokers have always had "skin in the game." Even back in the mid 90s the price of a pack of cigarettes was more than 50% tax. That percentage is by far much higher now. The so-called Master Settlement Agreement added 45cents to a pack and that was in 1998. States have been raising taxes on them willy nilly since hen. And his heinous nearly tripled the fed tax on them within a month after being inaugurated.
Cigarette smokers have had MORE "skin in the game" than non-smokers for quite a long time. It's time to attack a different minority.
I understand your point, however, cigarette smokers have always had "skin in the game." Even back in the mid 90s the price of a pack of cigarettes was more than 50% tax. That percentage is by far much higher now. The so-called Master Settlement Agreement added 45cents to a pack and that was in 1998. States have been raising taxes on them willy nilly since hen. And his heinous nearly tripled the fed tax on them within a month after being inaugurated.
Cigarette smokers have had MORE "skin in the game" than non-smokers for quite a long time. It's time to attack a different minority.