Just a few years ago, Minnesota had one of the half-dozen or so highest cigarette taxes in the U.S. Now we stand at about #30. Other states have hiked their cigarette taxes to expand their revenue base. Minnesota Republican legislators however, would rather starve public schools, lay off public sectors workers and degrade the environment rather than raise a tax. And for good measure, the same Republican legislators who stumble over each other to get their piece of Big Tobacco money, looted the tobacco cessation and prevention funds set aside from the tobacco lawsuit settlement.
Jim Bernstein Fulton ---------- >From: "j c harmon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [Mpls] Mpls spending and LGA >Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2003, 5:08 PM > > I'm all for 'sin' taxes - fur coats, cigarettes, liquor, viagra...but am > wondering why cigarettes are now down to less than $3/pack. A couple years > back they were much more. Is this a Pawlenty/republican/big tobacco thing? > Can't the city and/or the state tax them to the hilt - calling it a public > health issue? Why isn't anyone taxing the hell out of them being the tobacco > companies were sued and smoking has been outlawed nearly everywhere? Just > curious... > Jill Harmon > Cleveland > > _________________________________________________________________ > Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > TEMPORARY REMINDER: > 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change > the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) > > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
