The dirty liberal media is reporting that Jody Richards has changed his position on cigarette tax increases and will now push for a hike on cancer sticks in order to avoid budgetary cuts for education.

Is this a sign Kentucky could finally join the rest of the country in– if not the 21st Century– then the 20th?

Maybe?

Richards said there is growing support in his Democratic-controlled chamber for boosting the cigarette tax, which now stands at 30 cents a pack, one of the lowest rates in the nation.

Nationally, cigarette taxes average $1.11 a pack. The states bordering Kentucky have an average tax of 70 cents.

Raising the tax on cigarettes 75 cents would give Kentucky $307.6 million in additional revenue a year, according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Raising this tax is good policy. Smoking is voluntary. Hiking rates would generate revenue. It’d deter people from killing themselves, as Ernie Fletcher admitted. What’s not to love? It’s not like the taxation system in Kentucky will ever be fair, so, let’s at least try to get with the program.