McGreevey Cigarette Tax Hurts Working Families

by Joseph A. Lypowy

Previously published in the Ocean County Observer Opinion Page

   It is not often when Ed Decker and I see eye to eye on a topic, but after reading Ed's July 8th. letter, "Taxing cigarettes simply will not work", I have to say I am totally in agreement that the recent McGreevey cigarette tax increase will hurt  the state more than help. Decker is right when he says NJ merchants will loose business to neighboring states, internet cigarette sales, Indian reservations and possibly even cigarette smugglers. Fortunately I had quit smoking for over a decade, but to the misfortune of those who are still addicted or wish not to stop, they are being made the scapegoats for McGreevey's tax and spend policies.

   You don't have to go far to see who will bare the brunt of these taxes, you just have to go to the local diner, tavern or public meeting place. A large amount of the people who will bare the cost are low to moderate income people and blue collar workers. McGreevey's cigarette tax is sucking money right out of the pockets of working families. The liberal kingpins say this is good, it will force them to quit smoking, but the reality is that very few will quit because they are addicted or simply wish not to quit. McGreevey said he would not make the same mistake that Jim Florio made like taxing toilet paper. It is quite obvious that more people use toilet paper than smoke which would make logical sense why the Governor would prefer to levy taxes on the minority group. The average half a pack smoker pays at least $400 a year in state cigarette tax, a couple smoking one pack a day each will pay approximately $1600 a year in just state taxes. Unfortunately many children will suffer because of their parents habit in conjunction with the taxes. Low income and poverty level people who do not have access to out of state cigarette sales due to transportation issues will probably bare the biggest brunt of the tax increases.

   Ed Decker is right when he says we probably have more to fear from tax raising politicians than from foreign terrorist groups.