Majority supports raising cigarette tax
An overwhelming majority of Floridians support a $1 raise of the cigarette tax to help deal with state revenue shortfalls, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
The question:
Florida’s cigarette tax is now 34 cents a pack. Some legislators and public health groups are suggesting raising the cigarette tax an additional dollar a pack. Do you support or oppose raising cigarette taxes in Florida one dollar a pack?
- Yes: 71%
- No: 26%
- Don’t know: 3%
As Progressive Pensacola has pointed out time and time again, Florida’s cigarette tax has not been increased in 18 years, and is currently the 46th-lowest in the United States.
The poll has some other notable numbers. By a margin of 72-17, Floridians oppose any cuts in the state’s Bright Futures scholarship program; and, happily, by a 55-39 margin, Floridians support a repeal of the state law that bans homosexuals from adopting children.
The fact that we have such a law in the first place is disgusting.
Subscribe to our feed
Get updates via email
Follow us on Twitter
Oh sure. Let’s pile on the poor shall we?
I’d bet that the majority of Floridians do not smoke, so it is no sweat off their back to raise the tax by a buck.
A demographic study of smokers will show the the poor and the less educated are the largest users of tobacco products. Since when is piling taxes on the poor a good thing?
Raising taxes to raise revenue is counter productive, and in this case, cruel.
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/tobacco/demographics_tobacco.htm
1999 the state of florida sued the tobacco company’s for 14 BILLION and it was to be used for tobacco related illnesses. Well where did all that money go? The state had it’s chance and they have blown it.Now put the money back on what it was to be used for and quit whining about how smoker’s drive up health cost.