Jump to full article: Savannah (GA) Morning News, 2010-01-24
Author: Tom Barton
Intro: The second reason that teachers are wearing targets is medical.
Lawmakers lack backbones.
Georgia could plug about a fifth of its budget gap by raising the tax on cigarettes from 37 cents per pack to $1.37. The additional $400 million that supporters say the tax would generate in its first year would blunt the cost-cutting pain.
As a side benefit, it would indirectly reduce Medicaid costs, too.
People who puff away and hack their lungs out rack up an estimated $2 billion in medical costs annually. Paying an extra buck a pack would be more incentive to quit.
Sadly, most lawmakers can't see through the smoke or one inch past the next election.
They oppose any tax hike - even one that polls show enjoys popular support. Besides, key leaders in Atlanta who were bought by tobacco lobbyists apparently stay bought. . . .
Of course, collecting $400 million from smokers who suck it in would eliminate the need for more teacher furloughs. Sadly, Georgia's lawmakers would rather tax teachers, not tobacco.
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