Gov. Charlie Crist is cutting off his nose to spite his face

So our state is facing a huge budget shortfall. Major health organizations are pushing to raise the cigarette tax, which one raise our state's budget about $1 billion.

Our state needs this money. It will decrease the smoking rates, and will increase budget. But Crist has said no, no new taxes, or tax increases. Even if there are no negatives to the tax increase. We receive new monies, smokers decrease their smoking rates. Win - Win.

Here is a snippet from the article:

But it's health care advocates who are pushing the bill (SB 2790), arguing that raising the tax would cause people, especially cash-strapped kids, to stop smoking. The American Cancer Society estimates that 123,000 people might stop smoking as a result of a $1 increase.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, knows the strong opposition to tax increases, especially in an election year. So, Deutch's bill also changes the word "tax" in the cigarette tax law, making it a "user fee" instead.

Win Win. Anyone who can't see that is a fool.

**************************UPDATE**************************************

The Bill passed out of its Senate Committee today, the only Senator to vote "NO" was Senator Charles Dean. I called Senator Dean's office to encourage him to reconsider his vote next time it is before him. The Aide that answered the phone state that the Governor called the Senator and specifically asked him to vote no. The aide said that it was a long conversation, and the Governor state that if it makes it to his desk he will Veto it.

This is unacceptable. Over 2/3's of the state would like to see the cost of cigarettes go up in our state. We all would like to see fewer smokers. And we need the revenue. If this bill can make it through both chambers to his desk the Governor needs to sign it.

The Governor should actively support this bill, or passively ignore it. This stance he is taking is against the people of Florida. He is playing party politics, working against all taxes, while our state suffers. Putting the party above our state's health and well being is in excusable.

Governor Crist needs to reconsider his stance on Cigarette taxes.