This is a stupid proposition. First of all, smokers will do almost anything to keep smoking, so they will more than likely just adjust their spending. With gasoline and food already at higher prices, maybe they’ll just buy less milk for the kids, skip taking the kids to the dentist,stop buying vitamins for the kids etc. etc.
Secondly, only 20% will go to prevent smoking or cessation programs. The 80% that is supposed to go to schools is to keep classroom size small in elementary school. Full funding for schools could have passed if politicians hadn’t tried to add a bunch of pork spending to it.
Third, Missouri has a long history advertising taxes to be earmarked for education. What then happens is they cut the amount of general funding for education, so that Education funding doesn’t increase at all. Kinda like a bait and switch.
Fourth, if the sin taxes get steep enough, a black market develops and gangs take over as the source rather than a store. This disproportionately impacts poor minority neighborhoods.
I don’t smoke, but I am not about to vote for this tax or anyother. Government needs to downsize-period.
Are you are projecting about how you handle your budget shortfalls?