Most oppose higher cigarette tax/Kentucky

courier-journal.com ^ | 10 September 2002 | Tom Loftus

[SheLion]

Although Indiana and 17 other states have increased cigarette taxes this year to raise money, most Kentuckians oppose raising the state's 3-centsa-pack tax, according to a new Bluegrass Poll.

The poll, in a result with implications for the state's budget impasse, also found that 60 percent of Kentuckians favor scrapping the state's system of funding campaigns for governor that agree to limit spending. Twenty-seven percent of those polled wanted to maintain public financing of the campaigns.

[SheLion]

Oh sure! Raise the damn cigarette taxes. Place the state budget burden on the backs of 1 out of 4 of the people who smoke! Sure, raise the taxes on cigarettes! However:

CIGARETTES DON’T PAY TAXES – KENTUCKY SMOKERS DO!!

[SheLion]

Mary Young, 72,  said: ''I don't smoke, but I've seen what it can do to people,'' Young said. ''My niece died because of an illness she got from smoking, so I'm not in favor of smoking.''

We are sorry for your loss, Mary Young.  But your niece? Was she obese?  Did she have another pre-existing condition?  Was she a heavy drinker?  Drug user?

Your not "IN FAVOR OF SMOKING."  Sorry, Mary Young, it isn't UP to you, thank God.

[ozone1]

We don't care what the people think, we're democrats.

sarcasm off

[SheLion]

We don't care what the people think, we're democrats.

ewwwwwwww don't even GO there. LOL!

[altair]

Menisa Marshall, communications director for the American Lung Association of Kentucky, said surveys done by smoking opponents show that public support for a cigarette tax increase goes up significantly if the public is told the new revenue would be earmarked for a specific cause, such as teacher raises.

''Nearly half of the public supports an increase. That's not bad, but we have more work to do,'' Marshall said.

That's evil.

[SheLion]

''Nearly half of the public supports an increase. That's not bad, but we have more work to do,'' Marshall said.

Altair! It IS evil! When 75% of Americans want and expect 25% of their "brothers" to carry the load of the state, what does this tell us? Sure! It's easy for the non-smoker to dump the load on the smoker. It sure as hell doesn't hurt THEM any! As long as the money isn't coming out of THEIR pockets, well GET THE DIRTY SMOKERS. I'm sick of it.

[altair]

It wouldn't matter if it was 51% versus 49%. Conditioning the public against a segment of the population is evil. By the way, did you see the article about the McDonald's lawsuit? First it was tobacco, now it is fast food. Next up is soft drinks, I think.