The State House budget committee voted to increase the cigarette tax by 25-cents-per-pack, for a total of 55-cents-per-pack. Good move, but embarrassing that we as a state can’t get with the program the rest of the country is on and increase the tax by 70-cents.
Yay, Frankfort! We love the way you do business!
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The House budget committee voted 20-9 this morning to approve a revenue measure that includes a 25-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase.
Will the House approve the legislation?
Should we hold our breath? Probably not. Especially since Kentucky is, well, pretty jacked up when it comes to smoking the devil sticks.
Kentucky ranks second highest in the nation for smoking among pregnant women and has the highest overall smoking rate in the country. Yet the state ranks 44th in the amount of money it spends to try to help people stop smoking, according to a recent survey by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
3 responses so far ↓
1 CW // Mar 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Slightly off topic, but does it (pollution) apply to smokers also?
Vatican Updates Its Thou-Shalt-Not List: Genetic Manipulation, Pollution, Mind-Bending Drugs
FRANCES D’EMILIO
AP News
Mar 10, 2008 21:17 EST
In olden days, the 7 deadly sins included lust, gluttony and greed. Now, the Catholic Church says pollution, mind-damaging drugs and genetic experiments are on its updated thou-shalt-not list. Also receiving fresh attention by the Vatican was social injustice, along the lines of the age-old maxim: “The rich get richer while the poor get poorer.”
In a related story, The Southern Baptist Convention now supports the fight on Global Warming (quit harming the planet God gave you).
Looks like the Baptists and the Pope are saying “Jim Gooch will be going to hell”.
2 H.B. Elkins // Mar 11, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I am really glad I don’t smoke. I’m fat enough as it is, smoking would be an extra kick in the health gut as well as costing me big bucks.
3 jake // Mar 11, 2008 at 5:37 pm
H.B. – As a former fatty (very recent), I’m glad to hear you’re not a smoker.
On the positive side… just think of all the cash you save by not smoking. I spend all the cash I save on the Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen. Mmm.
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