Bredesen seeks rise in cigarette tax-Governor says most of $220M in new revenue would go to educa

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 2/6/7 | Tom Humphrey

[Just another Joe]

"The argument for a cigarette tax is straightforward: Our schools need more money," said Bredesen, adding that 90 percent of the new annual tax revenue would go to local schools or state colleges and universities.

Because ONLY cigarette smokers have children, dontcha know.
And, of course nearly all the money will be used for education. Educating the newer politicians how to move money into the general fund and take it out in pork.

[mysterio]

Why not both? Let's tax the heck out of anything that can be considered even slightly naughty.

[Phantom Lord]

I suggest a tax on "organic food". And a hefty one at that. With the funds directed toward educating childrden on nutrition.

Also a tax on soy products. That money is to go toward school lunches for underprivileged children.

[The Great RJ]

South Dakota voters voted in a $1 tax per pack increase in the November election. Our Legislature is now planning to use the "extra" revenue to fund education and emergency preparedness for the bird flu and make up any shortfall in the budget. Trouble is what will happen if, as the tax intends, people quit smoking? Obviously there are some basic economics missing.

[yankeedame]

Not trying to hijack the thread, I believe whatever the state did with lottery funds they will do the same thing with this money.

Well, I'm here in Ohio and we had/have the same problem re: lotto and education (as if playing the lotto isn't an education!). This is how it was explained to me:

• We'll say $100 a year usually goes to general education.
• The lotto bring in $10
• Now people think there will be $110 a year will go to education. (That's what they've been led to believe, right?)

  BUT this is what really happens:

  $90 in state budget for yearly general education
  $10 money generated by lotto, and behold...
  ------
  $100 The usually $$ for general education.

  So what happened to the "missing" $10 taking out of the initial state budget? That money goes to pork-barrel education projects: Head Start programs, etc. etc. to help politicians get elected next time around. You know, "educational programs", "for the children", etc. And, no, the politicians didn't lie: The money IS going to education. It fills the hole the politicians took out of the original education budget.

  So once again this is a case of "There's the truth, and then there's the whole truth."

[American_Centurion]

Ok. What my FIL now makes sense.

Why does Government have to be so effin unethical with everything. Yet they expect us citizens, subjects more accurately, do toe the line. My tagline applies once again.

I loathe bait and switch, and those who perpetrate such scams.

[yankeedame]

Why does Government have to be so effin unethical with everything.

Unethical? Yes. Dishonorable? Yes. Deceptive? Technically, no. "They" did tell us that lotto money was going towards the state's education, and, technically, it is.

After all, "they" can't be blamed is we misunderstood. (<- playing the devil's advocate there)

[Grendel9]

I gave up smoking back in '83. I said then
if they raise the price of ciggies one more
time, I'm quitting. They did...and I did.
Back then you could get a whole carton for
$6.50. Every once in a while I ponder just
how much money I've saved over the years;
and how much my smoking acquaintances have
seen go up in smoke.

[isom35]

well there's $120 mill down the drain.