[brat]

The persecution of smokers just never quits, does it! They are targeting us and subjecting us to uncalled for tyranny. I would think even non smokers would say enough is enough. What about our rights?

[Husker24]

They might as well just skip all the BS and just put a $500 a pack tax on it, thats what there headed for, and once they're done with the cigarettes they will be comeing for the ammunition. Theyll start with 5 cents a bullet and work thier way up untill you cant affort to have a gun any more, but hey, youll still have the right.

[KS Flyover]

It also would raise an estimated $617 million that lawmakers desperately need to offset a budget deficit of at least $1.2 billion by the end of the fiscal year, June 30. Another $11.5 million could come from a first-time 40 percent tax on the wholesale price of smokeless tobacco products.

[snip ...]

Sure it's about money, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing, said Bill Godshall of Pittsburgh, executive director of SmokeFree Pennsylvania, which has been pushing for an increase to the state's cigarette tax for 11 years.

Gov. Mark Schweiker must barely be able to hold back laughing his ass off while he spouts nonsence like:

"In the end, this isn't about revenues, spreadsheets or Rainy Day Funds," he said. "This is about stopping a child from buying that first pack of cigarettes or chewing tobacco. This is about saving lives."

Oh sure. Anyone in their right mind can see that it's not about money. It's only "for the children". </BS>

What a frickin' loser.

[goldstategop]

Raise it to $100 or even $1,000 a pack! Why stop at a measly $1.00 increase? After all its all for the children.