The 29-8 vote against a 25-cents per pack tobacco tax increase means Engler and lawmakers will have to scramble next week to find other ways to balance the state budget.
People who choose to smoke are damned tired of carrying the whole state. Its about time someone woke up to this. The anti's keep telling us that only the poor and uneducated smoke! Well, then, why highly tax those that can barely afford it!
Democrats voted "no," saying it's a levy on those least able to afford it. Many preferred delaying rollbacks in the state income and business taxes, which would pump more than $200 million into the budget.
DEMOCRATS? Go figure! You mean our "own kind" are turning against us?
Tobacco lobbyists who have been fighting the trend across the country say it's unfair to single out smokers to bolster dwindling budgets. And local store owners say additional taxes hurt their sales.
All across the US the lawmakers are raising cigarette taxes sky-high to balance their budgets. We are TIRED of carrying the states! TAX Alcohol! Tax ANYthing. But leave us alone!
All smokers want is for Big Government to butt out of our lives. What smokers want is for Big Government to stop the bans, the restrictions and the huge taxes imposed upon us.
Tobacco is LEGAL!
OMG!!! Can I get this guy to represent me too? Such profound logic is truly rare among our elected 'representitives'.
Yikes! Is that even legal? I mean, doesn't Michigan have some sort of enlightened constitutional provision that all spending sprees that result is a revenue shortfall must be addressed by hikes in tobacco and alcohol taxes? My God, the shame you must feel.
Will Wonders Never Cease? Oh my gosh,I really can't believe an elected official actualy said this out loud.I'm so glad to see this happening.(at least in Michigan)God knows,no elected official in Calif. has the gumption to state such a fact!