The state cigarette tax increases taking place nation wide are getting
ridiculous. The state politions have found an easy way to raise money
for their pet projects. So called pork barrel spending is not only a
national level political problem, but a state level problem as well.

The tax is supposed to be used to fund education here in Texas where I
live. The lottery came in about 9 years ago and it was supposed to
fund education, the politions said, but to date only 9 billion has
gone to education and 18 billion to the Texas State general fund(to
pay politions salaries). Another promise by politions to get people to
vote the way they want them to vote.

As usual when one state does something to increase tax revenue the
others will soon follow. Case and point the lottery. So if your state
has not raised the cigarette tax since Jan. 2007, they are probably
thinking about it.