Cigarette tax relegated to the ash bin of history?

Orange Punch, The Orange County Register political commentary blog ^ | 6-6-2012 | Mark Landsbaum

[Mark Landsbaum]

We were saddened last night as deadline approached and it seemed as if Proposition 29 was going to pass, adding yet another tax on Californians, even if it would fall directly only on those people who have yet to kick their cigarette habits.

But as dutiful journalists on deadline, we were obliged to report the situation as it stood as we sent the paper to the presses. So, the newspaper you received on your porch included our editorial saying that to our dismay, Prop. 29 appeared to be passing.

But . . .

[humblegunner]

But . . .

But what? Can you summarize?

[fr_freak]

...But even as we went to press last night the gap between Yes votes and No votes was narrowing. We were delightfully surprised this morning to see that with 100 percent of the votes counted, Prop. 29 had gone down in defeat, albeit narrowly so.

Cheers are appropriate, but celebration might be tempered just a tad. This morning Sacramento Bee reminds that the $1-per-pack tobacco tax increase trails only by a slim margin with more votes still to be counted...

[House Atreides]

“.........the $1-per-pack tobacco tax increase trails only by a slim margin with more votes still to be counted...”
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Correction: .....more votes still to be MANUFACTURED.