Proposed New Tobacco Taxes

Five geniuses have proposed that the State of Oregon further increase the taxes on tobacco products.

Since the State of Oregon allegedly entered into the class action lawsuits against tobacco companies for the alleged purpose of obtaining funds to treat those individuals made ill by these products, to advertise against these products, and to assist those addicted to quit using these products, most of the funds have been derailed into that bottomless hole known as the States General Fund.

It seems to me that this qualifies as obtaining money under false pretenses, and that the governor and the legislators of Oregon are quite possibly subject to prosecution for this, unless of course, the State Attorney General is under the impression that diversion of funds is perfectly legal in this state.

If the excess taxes on Tobacco were being used for the purposes listed in the news at the time of the lawsuits, the resulting decrease in revenues would force the state to look elsewhere for money.

Oh, you say that they are already doing this with the lottery.

Yes, they are. The newest gimmick for fleecing the citizens is the installation of "line games" in various establishments throughout the state (bet the Indian casinos love that).

I know, let's increase the taxes on Alcohol. We can tell everyone that the money is going to be used to treat those made ill by alcoholism, advertise against the use of alcohol and assist those addicted to alcohol.

Nah, we can't do something like that. While the majority of our politicians are probably non-smokers, They surely are not going to make their alcohol cost $40.00 or more per bottle.

Let's quadruple the taxes on all alcohol products. The State of Oregon would not be seen as favoring one "sin" over another and would be rolling in funds that could be diverted into the general fund.

There might even be enough left over that we can have more over-priced four lane highways in the middle of nowhere as in Lebanon to Sweet Home and various others for the convenience of our legislators