Jump to full article: Bakersfield (CA) Californian, 2002-08-18
Intro: The cash cow in California these days smokes. More than 40 days overdue in passing a budget, members of the Assembly are chewing their cuds over the newest ploy to raise money and close a growing hole in the state spending plan.
The ploy: Raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $2.13. That will bring it to $3 a pack the highest of any state. If the tax passes the Legislature and is approved by the governor, a pack of cigarettes in California could cost about $7. . .
No matter how many mirrors you use and how much smoke you generate, to bring fiscal stability to California, Republican and Democrat lawmakers will have to work up their courage, remember they are elected to lead, cut their spending and yes raise taxes.
But political courage is a pretty rare commodity in an election season. Perhaps this year's state budget will be the turkey the Legislature serves up for Thanksgiving after the election.
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