Tax Hike in the Air for Smokers!!

A great article in the Orlando paper today about raising the taxes on cigarettes here in Florida. I think this is a great idea, and something that the state should do. The Young Democrats of Florida are fully behind any effort to raise the taxes on cigarettes.

The cost of smoking is high on the tax payer, and helping to raise the cost allows the state to move towards breaking even, and will allow the state to allocate funds to serve other areas of need.

For the full article click on the title bar, but for the start just read below:

TALLAHASSEE - For nearly two decades, while almost every state has raised its tax on cigarettes, Florida's has remained the same: 34 cents a pack.

Now there's a renewed effort, spearheaded by South Florida Democrats and health-care advocates, to boost Florida's cigarette tax by $1 a pack, to $1.34. The national average for state cigarette taxes is $1.12.

Supporters have retooled their pitch in a tight budget year, arguing the tax increase would not only reduce teen smoking but also generate an estimated $1 billion annually to offset some looming cuts in state health-care expenditures.