Reader comments
Hiking taxes on cigarettes isn't unfair

make it 10 dollars a pack..we don't care, there are other states that sell them...we will buy them when we get our lotto tickets or our fireworks, or when we go for a weekend to gamble, only keep an eye out for your bishop...he will tell on you...

You cannot be serious. By the logic of this 'editorial' taxing crucifix's or yarmulka's wouldn't be wrong. ANY tax that directly effects a minority is wrong. ESPECIALLY when that tax is going to directly assist the majority (in this case, removing the food tax which is a direct tax cut to large families [mostly LDS family's in Utah])
If the governor wants to eliminate the food tax, he's more than welcome. Provided its not at the expense of a minority.
If we're going to tax minorites, lets just tax African-Americans. Endometrial and colorectal cancers affect them worse. As does breast cancer, asthma, stroke, and diabetes. They're a drain on the american health care system too. :(

Doug Robinson is totally out of line and wrong about what he claims about health issues of smokers. I think there has been enough evidence come out that does not support his and others theories. Smokers health is no worse than any non smoker and taxes on cigarettes are a vindictive tax to punish smokers. It is an unfair tax and discrimination to tax smokers as a cancer tax to blame them for all sickness and health problems encountered by non smokers. A fair health tax would tax everybody the same, smokers and non smokers. Smoking is being blamed for the non smokers health problems when it has noting to do with smoking. Evidence proves that smoking is no more hazardous to your health than your religion, what you eat, drink, live, or your lifestyle. Cigarette tax is popular because every one views it as a cash cow and some one to blame and the easiest tax to raise without responsible representation. It is a vindictive tax for non smokers looking for handouts and tax revenue, and it is the very same kind of tax that sponsored the reveloution. Being blind, greedy, and vindictive is popular in Utah.

why dont we tax the air that we breath or the rain that falls from the sky too while we are at it?? I am a smoker and I am trying to quit but it is not easy. If they raise taxes on cigarettes then they should give the patch or other stop smoking help away for free. The taxes will be mis-used like every other tax and will most likely end up in someone's pocket. Don't get me wrong, I know smoking is bad, but I dont throw my butts on the ground they go in a trash can, I dont smoke around other non-smokers, and i especially don't smoke around kids. I just feel that you are way off base.

I am tired of watching children of parents and family members still in the back of cars of smokers. And people on the welfare system without enough money to eat that will not quit smoking for possibly enough money to buy another meal. For the health of everyone I think it's a grest idea.

While you're at it, jack up the taxes on alcohol and and fattening foods too. And how about video games; they rob our kids of time when they should be doing homework.

. . . is used as a punitive measure, and the revenues derived therefrom are used to benefit a special interest unrelated to the people being taxed -- that tax is repressive, confiscatory, socialistic, unfair, and illegal.

Shame on Gov. Huntsman!

Off course the tax on food should be removed! Today!

But not at the expense of a defenseless minority of saps so addicted to their vice that they will endure our punishments, no matter how cynical and vicious they become.

So a tax hike is fair because smokers are unpopular? I admire the honesty of the article, but I don't think it makes a tax hike any less unfair.

How do you think that raising the taxes on cigarettes is going t solve anything. I am not a smoker but my husband is and is in the process of quitting. So if you raise the taxes then you are going to see a rise in theft. People are going to steal what they can't afford to buy. Leave things as they are. I don't condone smoking as I think it is a terrible habit but what do they think they are going to accomplish by raising the taxes to $3.00?

Taxing tobacco makes sense as long as the revenues are appropriated for prevention and cessation programs and for programs that treat medical problems caused by tobacco.

Using tobacco revenues for general government purposes is immoral.

Sinnercal (2:44 am) is simply wrong. Equating taxing cigarettes to oppression of minorities is just stupid. However, it is true that the Utah religious majority (of which I am one) is far too willing to tax those activities in which they don't participate. Somehow, those who would otherwise balk at government attempting to force people to do things they don't want to do somehow find it acceptable for THEIR government to force people to stop doing something that is (legitimately) considered to be a bad thing.

Smoking is a pretty lousy health habit, and almost every smoker knows that. If we're worried about higher health care costs, then exempt smokers from Medicaid and Medicare. If we're worried about littering by smokers (why don't smokers consider it littering to throw a butt out their car window, anyway?), then enforce littering laws and make them stricter. Using tax policy as a stick to beat smokers with, hoping they'll quit, seems pretty ineffective and vindictive.

Oh, and I just love Doug Robinson's argument that we should try to out-liberal New York State. We can always find a way to be more intrusive than another liberal state, but is that really a good goal?

Don't worry the illustrious governor wants to raise taxes on the rest of you smog breathing, SUV driving reactionaries by raising the gas tax too! Just like the New York.......

Here's a thought: If you were in a crowded bar, filled with cigarette smoke, would you die in a short time? Same scenario only let's switch the cigarettes to running cars. That is a definite death sentence in a short time. It has been proven that smoking is harder to quit than heroin. If they want everyone to quit, then yes, give aids away free. Anyone price Chantix??? Anyone's insurance company pay for it??? If it does, you're lucky! Ninety percent of medical insurance does NOT cover it yet the doctors all want people to quit. People need to stop and think. How about offering some help? You can't? Then shut up. There are many more things to tax and if you want to discriminate against one thing, do it to ALL things.

Why not? If you are trying to mandate social responsibility by taxing cigarettes to a point that smokers have to make a finanical choice about buying them, then surely you can regulate those who find it necessary to have 6,7,8 kids in an environ with limited resources.

Isn't the desired result the same? A behavorial change through taxation.

Taxing tobacco helps adults quit. Taxing tobacco helps kids to never use tobacco. Decreasing tobacco usage rates decreases health care expenses, improves the standard of living, and aids people struggling with addiction.

There is not a down side to a tobacco tax.

its being racist

Smokers are minority now? A race as minority makes sense. Smokers are not a minority.

Daniel,

I am sorry to say your comment makes no sense. If you were educated you would know that alcohol is proven to be good against heart disease and many health risks when used in moderation, so taxing it higher goes against the whole article. Also coffee is proven to be good in moderation for your info. I would agree you might as well tax fast food, soda and video games though.

Thanks,
Educated

I do think this is unfair. We live in a state of severly obese people and that is just as digusting as a smoker. And what about these people who bathe in perfume and cause a asthma attack. The fact is that we are a facist state and want to control all aspects of everyone lives. Get real and leave people alone. The sales tax will never be removed from food the government will think of another issuse to leave it on. Don't be stupid and think that Jon huntsman is really looking out for Utah.

I smoke, not happy about it, but it's harder than a non-smoker thinks to quit. What's pretty funny about the whole thing . . . this huge tax will FORCE alot of people to quit! Ok, YAY! Better health for us all. Great. So then what? If too many smokers quit, this tax hike isn't going to produce enough tax money (if people stop buying cigarettes like they are now_ - so what will they do? Find something else to tax! This will just be the beginning of adding higher taxes to alot of things! Think it thru people! Just cuz you don't smoke doesn't mean YOU won't be affected by some lame tax in the future! Oh & let's pray the cigarette companies won't be asking for bailout money after this occurs! YIKES! Whatever is chosen to be taxed . . we ALL really pay for it in the end. It's never enough. Never will be.