Jump to full article: Norfolk (VA) Virginian-Pilot, 2002-08-24
Intro: It's time for another change, and this time the movement ought to be in the opposite direction -- up. A new poll discovering that a surprising 67 percent of Virginians favor a 60-cents-per-pack hike ought to put some starch in the spines of lawmakers who wilt at mere mention of the ``T'' word.
As voters apparently recognize, sin taxes are different. . .
But a lucrative poison is nonetheless a poison. Ultimately, public policy must favor the larger public interest, in this case reducing the hundreds of millions of dollars taxpayers expend each year in treating smoking-related illnesses.
At least from an economic standpoint, the domestic decline in smoking is occurring gradually. Although tobacco lobbyists will claim otherwise, an increase in Virginia's cigarette tax would be a minuscule assault on the industry. Eighteen states have already raised their cigarette taxes this year, and there has been no discernible impact on tax collections in the Virginia communities that support tobacco.
It is time to light up the campaign for a higher cigarette tax in Virginia.
Jump to full article » |