Cigarette tax increases force working families to pay the tab for bigger government and programs unrelated to smoking.
Cigarettes are already one of the most heavily taxed consumer products in the United States.
As a result of the settlement, cigarette prices have increased by almost 50 cents a pack since December 1998 . There is a federal budget surplus. New cigarette taxes would hit farmers, factory workers, truck drivers, and people who work in small businesses. Some advocates of cigarette-tax increases claim that their goal is to reduce youth smoking by increasing the price. 6 Excessive cigarette taxes punish adult smokers because of their lifestyle choices.