Aspects of this drama are outrageous. Of course, the cigarette makers target low-income people. The public may be far ahead of pols who are reluctant to raise cigarette taxes. Chaloupka notes that voters in other states also have approved such hikes. They want programs to keep youngsters from becoming addicts like them.
Good government is good politics.
Fogarty, eyeing the governorship, has championed several anti-tobacco measures. Right now, House Finance chairman Tony Pires, who wants to run for governor, could do all of us, as well as himself, a big favor. He could push the restaurant smoking bill and some form of a major cigarette tax hike. But Pires is taking no active role on the restaurant bill, leaving it to Dennigan to see if she can swing Finance members around. As for a big cigarette tax hike, Pires is queasy about overburdening smokers who feel they pay enough taxes.