Do agree with the decision to increase cigarette taxes to $1.01 to expand children's health insurance?

Why do they always want the smokers to pay for everything? Why not spread the tax around? Alcohol, chocolate, and junk? Why not make the parents of child ren who buy these products help pay the health bill? It's not fair to keep making one group pay for this!

Even though all of my family is non-smokers, it still isn't right to target smokers to pay for short falls in tax funded programs. Sounds like discrimination aimed at smokers and those that dip to me. If the goverment would stop giving illegal immigrants OUR TAX DOLLARS, tax dollars they HAVE NOT PAID in the tax system, there would be no need to increase the tax on anything.

I don't think the tax is fair. I feel like I'm being unduly punished because I smoke. I also feel like I'm being forced to pay for health insurance for someone else when I can't afford health insurance for myself.

Have any of our government officials taken a salary cut in order to help balance the budget?

I dont think that it is fair to single out smokers to pay for something others will benefit from. I currently do not have health insurance myself, so why should I pay for someone else's? I am more or less being forced to quit. Why not tax something everyone uses?!

I think they should tax the alcohol and maybe it would save a few inacent peoples lives and make our roads a safer place. We as smokers choose to smoke but the none drinkers have no choice when drunks decide to get behind the wheel and take our loved ones lives. I think these people are crazy if they think people are going to do this, maybe the rich and famous but not people like me!!!!!

Sorry smokers, you cost everyone more.
Why do most smokers feel that the earth is thier personal ashtray, as your butt comes flying out the window on the roads. Consider it a fine for littering...
I have to take a shower every time I go to a tavern, but why should I have to pay for extra soap? unfair...
Unfair target? I don't make you smoke. I am a social drinker and pay tax for that. Sin-tax is sin-tax, don't want to pay it- don't do the sin...
If you can't afford to pay for essentials, how can you afford to pay for cigarettes? To whom-ever can't afford to pay for health insurance, but can still afford smokes? I'm missing your priorities...
Yes, you have the right to smoke. That is fine with me. As an RN, smokers and drinkers are my job security.
I also find it funny that some smokers don't want the stench in their cars or homes and step outside to indulge, but don't have any problems with destroying their ability to breath...

What a pompous little ass! What is your personal vendetta against smokers? You frequent places where you know there are smokers, places that allow smoking. You marinate in the smoke, by choice, yet it's the smokers fault? It's this kind or twisted idiotic logic that has our country in the shape that it is in. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their own actions anymore, they only want to find someone that they can blame. As far as the tax is concerned, NO it's not fair to apply an unreasonable tax such as this. My father smokes, after 50+ years, not by choice. He can't afford his own health insurance, how is this fair to make him pay for health insurance for people who already have programs available? I don't have children, by choice, why should my property taxes go up to help fund education, when I can't get any form of assistance to pay for my tuition? A tax on tobacco is fine, but let's be reasonable. How about spreading that tax out to the alcohol and help keep these drunks that go to "taverns" and then drive under the influence. This tax is akin to taxing overweight people so that we can fund diet programs for overweight children.

i think the same way as the others do.it is not right that us smokers get targeted all the time.i don't mind helping,when a child needs help. the goverment is going to far.they claime smoke related deseeses.but what about the deseeses that comes with alcohol?besides,i never heard of it that someone got killed by smoking and driving.alcohol on the other hand is a big killer.i see it at my job just about every day,where people are drunk and drive. drinkers should be taxed more also. this onesided taxrase is not fair.is true,it sounds like discrimination.and then the goverment is talking about beeing fair? HELLO!!!!!!!!!! but who will garantie that the tax will go to the children?

OUR COUNTRY IS IN ONE GREAT BIG MESS! WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS? AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE. NO, ITS NOT RIGHT TO ADD SO MUCH TAX PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO SMOKE IF THEY WANT TO, AND WE ALL KNOW THATS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. FORCING SOMEONE TO QUIT.

I am a smoker and have been for a long time. I have 2 kids but I dont smoke around them or my husband. I dont smoke in my house or in my car and I make sure I pick my butts up when I am finished. They have cut smoking out of resturants and some bars. I dont think that it is fair for me to have to pay more for a pack of smokes because our "Government" dosent know how to manage money. My family is fortunate to have health insurance, but i dont think that I should have to pay extra. Smoking has never killed anyone in a car wreck. Why not increase the sales tax on alcohol,porn and other junk?? Smokers are being targeted because AMERICA IS BROKE!!!! Dont expect me as a smoker to pick up the slack for the rest of the americans. Learn to manage your money and quit giving it to other countries and help america for once!!!!