Tobacco.org

FIREY/GRIER: Boosting tobacco tax won't serve kids' health 

Smoking in the United States is already declining significantly - largely as a result of public awareness of its dangers, not higher taxes. The declining number of smokers makes cigarette tax revenue unstable . . .

SCHIP's advocates believe the program is critical to providing health care to children. That's debatable. But if Congress and the president decide to expand the program, they should not repeat the Wisconsin Legislature's mistakes and force smokers alone to bear the cost.

Higher tobacco taxes are unfair, unadvisable and unlikely to bring in enough money over time.

Thomas Firey is managing editor of the Cato Institute's magazine Regulation. Jacob Grier is a writer based in Arlington, Va.

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