Why did tobacco tax fail in Missouri?

[Conservababe]

Lost in the national attention of the senatorial race and stem cell research amendment was amendment #3. It was a proposal to raise taxes by four cents a cigarette. Some of the revenues collected was to go to smoking cessation education and health care of the uninsured;none being allocated to general revenue. Blah blah blah, you know the drill.

It was defeated by 51.5 to 48.5 percent. There was not much of a discussion of the amendment in my area in the media or local talk shows. Twenty-four percent of the adult population in Missouri smokes. I would venture to say that most smokers just assumed it would pass readily.

But, it did not pass and I'm trying to figure out why. Did voters reject another tax even though they have distaste for smokers? Did they not trust the state to spend the money wisely?

[missnry]

Read my lips: "No New Taxes"! I voted against it and I don't smoke. I will not vote for any tax increase.

[zeugma]

agreed. No apology needed. Sometimes I'm less than entirely clear about the full context of my remarks. The main point of my earlier comment is that I see too many people who appear to be buying into the "the money raised by this tax are going to be spent on X" meme. Like the lottery in Texas, when they were promoting it, the mantra was "it's for the schools", yet the money never really materializes because it all essentially comes from the same pot no matter what kind of accounting gimmicks they try to use to disguise the matter.

[Plumrodimus]

After what happened with the money from the Clinton-era tobacco lawsuit, and the education money shell game they ran on us with the lottery money, I'd say trust was probably a factor.

That's why I voted against it.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Very confusing.

[Da Bilge Troll]

Taxes are for REVENUE - not social engineering. My "NO" vote was based solely on that. I do not smoke cigarettes. The state did not need this money. Period.

[always paddle your own canoe]

Actually, I think it was a combination of the fact that everyone wondered when the tax on alcohol would begin. Then the tax on McDonalds food, then the tax on ____________( fill in the blank).
The other factor was with all the cuts to state programs in the past few years, it wasn't a reality for this to fill the gaps. There had to be more, and we were not willing to wait for the other boot to drop.

[Drammach]

Try putting an apple slice in the tobacco to keep it moist and to sweeten the flavor.

I just use coffee..
Besides an apple slice, you can use a slice of potato..
My brother occasionally puts a tsp. full of Jack Daniels in his tobacco..

Some asian cultures use various oils, ( like incense oil ) to scent or flavor their tobaccos or cigarettes..

[Drammach]

I have found "Gambler" to be fairly good, and also "Echo" brand.. ( I get the "light" tobacco, in 1 pound bags..)

I live in Kansas City, MO, and get it at RedX store..

I'm not sure where it would be available wherever you live, but If you have a store that sells a wide enough range of tobacco products they probably have it available or can order it for you..

[1stMarylandRegiment]

Since omney is fungible we all recognized that this was just another tax increase hidden wtihin a religio-secular attack.