"There's no doubt smoking is bad for you, but there are a lot of other places that are not taxed nearly to the extent that tobacco is taxed," retailer Joe Vas, manager of ABC Fine Cigars. Vas told the television news station if the state is looking to generate revenue, it should look further than his customers. "It is a sin tax that's [image-nocss] being beat to death."
Right now smokers pay 79 cents per pack in taxes. By raising that tax to the national average of $1.34, Kansas would raise $88 million next year, according to the report.
"It seems like tobacco is always a target when the government is trying to raise money," Vas said. "I don't think that's fair at all."
Vas would prefer lawmakers look at taxing other industries that are considered unhealthy. "Fast food is a perfect example. It's too cheap and easy to buy a Big Mac, and that impacts how many people?" Vas said.
The governor will announce his formal plans on tobacco next year. Senate president Steve Morris said he'd support a tobacco tax increase. He said it's probably the only tax increase that has any chance of getting through the legislature.
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