Cigarette Tax: A Dwindling Revenue Stream

“No taxation without representation!”   Well, taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.

Associated Press reported yesterday afternoon that lots of Arkansans are kicking the smoking habit.  This is great news for everyone except the folks who are lined up at the public trough for a share of the $80 million per year cigarette tax. Billed as a tax for a state-wide trauma system and medical school for northwest Arkansas, Gov. Beebe and his friends saw to it that at least $50 million per year would be spent on what some would call “pork” to expand a number of other government programs and services.

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