It’s ‘for the children’. /s
The spending side is an abomination and indefensible.
And I know it's fashionable to mock children's issues here on FR but, the tax increase makes a lot of sense. As price increases, demand decreases. Econ 101. The reality is 90% of all smokers started as teenagers.
Adults don't smoke. Teenagers smoke and then become adults after it’s way too late to quit. Reducing teenage smoking is a valid goal and I support it. Every conservative should support a reduction in kids smoking.