The financial consequences of cigarette smoking are truly mind-boggling. Direct costs include hospitalization, doctors bills, medications, and home and nursing home care. State governments are also becoming increasingly aware of the adverse effects of tobacco on their local economies. The state of Texas, for example. This realization has led the attorney generals of a number of states, cities and counties to file suits against the tobacco industry for recovery of these losses.
Insurance companies owned by tobacco companies charge smokers nearly double for term life insurance.
Smokers take an average of 6.5 sick days per year more than non-smokers. Despite these well known facts, the very politicians who prophesy the demise of Medicare, do nothing to regulate this public health hazard. It would therefore seem logical, that if we are truly interested in fiscal responsibility, balancing the budget and saving Medicare, then effective action will have to be taken to reduce this staggering financial loss. My congressman, Republican David Dreier, from a district at least 1000 miles away from the nearest tobacco farmer, voted FOR the subsidy. A NO vote would have resulted in a tie vote that would have forced Newt Gingrich to show his true colors.