I am sick of the discrimination against cigarette smokers.  Put a tax on alcohol and see how fast taxes get raised on alcohol.  All the congressmen and non smokers would be up in arms about that.  Alcohol kills more people that cigarettes do.  Drunk drivers kill people,  cigarette smokers don't kill people with cars. Again,
put more tax on alcohol and see how far it goes!
GS

why don't they put a dollar tax on each alcoholic drink bought,maybe we won't have so many drunks driving around killing people.

how dare they!!! i just can't believe this. why should smokers always be targeted? the buget would be fixed if the politicians would be more frugel and watch how they spend our money. shame on them!!!!!!

I think alcohol kills more people than cigarettes .  If anything is going to be taxed to save lives and help the economy try taxing the cocktails and get the drunk drivers off the road and help the economy that way.

I agree with Cheryl - put the tax on the drinks and stop picking the pockets of smoskers... It is an outrage that our politicians are going to tax smokers to make up the money from property taxes. All in all though - if smokers don't complain to their political state representatives they will go right ahead and tax cigarettes a dollar this year...and more dollars in years that follow until we are paying $10 a pack. Email or fax your representatives here: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

I know you will not publish this but you ask for my opinion.  It is my belief that the criminal politicians need to cut Government waste and their own salaries before they impose more taxes on the Citizens of Florida.  Their answer to every situation is to increase taxes on the people while they steal money from the funds that they charge us.  They can not and will not do their jobs while they are taking kickbacks and bribes from their private interests.  Every time the criminals impose a new tax on people it cuts those peoples income.  I think it is time to start cutting their income.  One state senator ask me how much of the 30,000 dollar income I thought they should be allowed to keep.  My answer was they should be able to keep an amount equal to their performance.  At this point that equates to about 10 dollars a year with 9.99 going to taxes.  They are already getting well over 60 percent of peoples income if you add up ALL of the taxes we pay..  Figure it out yourself. I did and was shocked.  BTW I am a non smoker.  I just believe that their needs to be a lot of reform in the government and the news media who are in the politicians pockets  also.  Like I said publish this if you will but I know I will never hear a thing about Government waste or the criminal politicians actual income in any news media.  Ask yourself this question...Why would someone spend millions to get a job that only pays $200,000.00 a year.  That is on a National level.  So why would someone spend 100's of thousands of dollars to campaign for a state job that only pays $30,000.00 a year.  Because they are on the payroll of others in the form of kickbacks and bribes. Ask peoples opinion on why they would do that, I dare you...

THIS HIGHER PRICE FOR SMOKES MIGHT HELP KEEP TEENS FROM SMOKING. THE TAX WILL BE WORTH IT.

I agree with the other comments,  I have never seen someone smoking a cigarette and weaving all over the road.  My husband quit 7 years ago and has been sick ever since. He used to never catch colds or problems with pollen and season changes, but since he has quit, he spends MORE time at the doctors than he ever did before.  So much for  SMOKING RELATED health costs!!!

Let's start looking at the waste in government and make cuts in spending, rather than continuing to add taxes.  Prime example is DCF and the unbelieveable amounts of monies wasted that never go to the needy, instead supporting a bureaucracy which does not serve the people, focusing on preserving itself instead.

An additional tax on alcohol would be more appropriate - the amounts spent covering illnesses cause by alcohol are certainly higher than those caused by smoking - included in these costs are the crimes commited, the accidents caused, the mortality as a result, the family break-up, loss of employment, the need for rehabilitation, etc. etc.  Most of these costs are a burden to society and on Medicaid in particular.  Far fewer ills are as a result of smoking than are caused by drinking.

i realy hope thay double the price per pacage of
cigerettes i am fed up driving beside some person
with there arm sticking out the window then throw
there butts onto the grass at the side of the road
maybe some people will quit
  3 cheers for the tax man just do it double tax
               thanks   tony

Why put an extra tax on cigarettes and cause undue hardships on smokers - because it may be the only way to wake up these stupid people that smell horriblely, spew foul breath on anyone having a conversation with them and have their feelings hurt when we smart non smoking individuals back off.  Wake up and smell the roses - oh, I forget you can't smell anything due to years of smoking because if you could, you would know how bad you and your smoke stinks.  

Ungy butts litter the beaches, UGLY BUTTS and users Stink up the air!
Second hand smoke makes little children sick!
Who in there right mind would even buy a pack????!
Too much money, too few brains!

I think this is non-sence !
First smokers were banned form smoking in public areas...ok, then smokers were banned from smoking in establishments serving foods...ok then airports, ect..
Smokers have complied and curbed there knowingly bad habit.
Now the Gov. wants to tax smokers a $1 more than were already paying...ARE YOU KIDDING...Whats next HIGHER TAXES ON CLEAN AND PURIFIED WATER.

I think they should increase the tax even more.  I don't understand how smokers don't realized the horrible dead they are going to have.  Well. that's their problem but why we, the tax payers have to pay for their consecuences of smoking.

For years now, smokers have been paying for, "health care", for sick smokers. We all know that very little, if any of the tax monies are being spent on health care, it is being wasted on the politicians, and by the poiticians on who knows what.
The state just wants more money for their, "slush", funds. Again we know the money will be wasted away.

I think the smokers are carrying enough of the taxes.  I would certianly vote for taxes to be raised on alcholic beverages and I do have an occasional drink now and then.  This "user fee" for smokers is a ridiculous excuse for the tax.  We taxpayers are taxed on everything except for the air we breath.  Taxing the smokers will cause alot of people to quit but at the same time alot of smokers will continue to smoke and pay the high prices for cigarettes and then go bankrupt and then mooch off the state when they apply for welfare.  Enough is Enough!!!!!

put a tax on alco.hol and see how fast that goes through if it was not so cheep for beer you would not have 16 year olds buying it and you would not have so many drunk drivers check the cars that come out of the 7 11 with there little brown bag guess whats in it.  all the big shots drink and would not pass a tax

when it time time to vote we will vote you out of office..See how you like that!!!!!!!!!!!!

 This is an addiction that some just can't quit!!  Do this and crime will increase!
 Mark my words- it's as strong as heroin!!  So I hear, and if I don't have my ciggs- I can not think of anything but getting them.
I know it's sad but it's true.
It won't make me quit!!! Just do what-ever I need to get them!
Just being Honest ..Nice people will become as bad as your worst feared drug addicts..Do they really want that.
The world lead us to believe they were cool- relaxing.. and pushed them on the public now all hooked are bad people. come on!!  This is so wrong!

 This isn't the way to get people to quit- Find a real way. Nothing is out there works so far.

SO SO~ sick of the discrimination against cigarette smokers!

I think cigarettes should be taxed even higher and alocohol to.  No smokeing will save lives. No alocohol will save lives. Stop both and will all live longer. Better for all of us. Everyone talks about the GREEN House effect start by not smokeing and drinking.  Lower the price on gas and all will be happy.

Don't forgot to VOTE'VOTE'VOTE.......

I don't think there shoud be any increased taxes until our government (local, state and federal) ceases it's wasteful spending.  The tax paying citizens need to be made aware of all the slush funds that are never accounted for.  I used to be a civil sevant and was appaled at the wasteful spending of our government.

I was a smoker for years then i woke up and stopped . It was the best thing I have ever done for myself . Smokers will defend their smoking habits and blame everyone but themselves . The truth of it is they don't have the will power to stop. It is an addiction just like drugs , gambling , alcohol . Because I have quit I can smell a smoker half a block away and do you know what . IT STINKS

I have been a non-smoker for twenty years now but I do not believe the answer to balancing our budget is to keep passing the burden on to tax payers.  This country needs someone in authority who knows how to curtail government spending.  For instance, the millions George Bush wants to spend to send everyone a letter informing them when to expect their small tax stimulus check.?  Just send me the check!  And the mega money to have a do-over primary in Florida and Georgia?  What are these people thinking?  We voted, let it count!

I have been smoking for 40 yrs. and have now been confined to my home & car in order to smoke but I have never complained as I understand what it must be like for non-smokers. However, I am most upset about the possibility of an additional tax & I think it would make me so mad if it were approved that there would be no way I would quit.  I feel certain that "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers" would love to see the tax put on liquor and I think it is about time someone started picking on the liquor industry for a change.

Give me a break - I am already paying an ample amount in taxes and I think it is certainly time to pick on another bad habit.  I said I would not quit if the tax was impossed but suppose I did, along with all the other remaining smokers and guess what - no tax money would be collected would it.

As an Ex  smoker I don't think that cigarettes should be taxed any more than they already are. What I do think is that maybe they should tax guns and bullets in a way to make them a little more prohibitive for people to be able to afford them.  If you are truly buying a gun for protection there is no reason to have more bullets than you need to fill the chamber.  If there was a high tax on the bullets maybe people wouldn't be so quick to buy a gun which at some point in time is probably going to wind up on the streets and involved in a murder.

Why don't they raise the prices of alcohol too. There are more car accidents and deaths when alcohol is involved. They aren't banned in malls and resturants. But they continue to sell it, and let their patrons leave knowing they may get into an accident. And they haven't banned it in the nascar field. You see it on commericals all the time. And kids think it is great. So it all over the place. I feel if they are going to pick on us, then pick on the right business. They are a BIG money maker.

Why don't they raise taxes on alcohol too.  You can prove when someone is killed by a drunk driver, but they can't prove for sure that second hand smoke killed anyone.

These legislators work for we the people, Please put these legislators names on your newscast.Then we the people can terminate their jobs.

I strongly agree with the proposed $1 cigarette tax.  In fact, they should make it $5 per pack.  As for those idiots who think that drinking kills more people - wrong!!!!!  Smoking is the biggest killer in the United States.  It kills more people than heart disease, alcohol abuse, drunk driving and car accidents.  Smoking is a terrible habit that destroys the individual who smokes, the non-smoker and the environment.  I know people who smoke who can afford cigarettes, but can't afford food!  This is not only dirty and nasty habit, it is also very toxic and deadly.  Many smokers are completey ignorant of the risks and even blow their toxic smoke at the poor innocent non-smoker.  When are these moronic pawns going to realize that this is a deadly habit that hurts and kills many people.  They have had 40 years of warnings to quit and young people ignore them and rather smoke just like their friends.  People should never even start smoking, because nicotine is one of the most addictive substances of earth.  Cigarette smoke also contains lead, mercury, arsenic, ammonia, cyanide and many more toxic chemicals.  Why would any thinking person want to put these chemicals into their body.  People who smoke are stupid, weak willed sheep who have to follow the herd and don't have enough brain power or motivation to quit.  They also harm the environment and cause more global warming when the carbon dioxide from the smoke goes up into the atmosphere.  Basically, they are very selfish, self-centered people.  They deserve to be taxed more.

I fully agree with the $1 tax and think it should be even higher - $5 or $10 a pack.  The health problems have been documented for years (in contrast to one writer who said you can't prove that anyone was killed by second hand smoke.)  Of course, then the smokers family would be going without food because the drug addict would be spending money on smokes.  Yes, a smoker is a drug addict - the drug being nicotine.

All those who say more people are killed by alcohol then cigarettes need to check the figures.  The last number I heard about smoking deaths was in the 6 figure range.  In 2006 according to the NHSA there were more people killed in non-alcohol accidents then in alcohol accidents.  I like the idea of smokers not paying taxes by not buying cigarettes - it means less stinking drug addicts polluting our air

I believe smokers should have a two dollar tax added to each and every pack to help cover their definite sicknesses that cigarettes cause throughout their lives. WHY should non-smokers have to pay for the smokers? WE should not have to. Just like if a person sky dives ( jumping out of perfectly good airplanes) if they can get insurance..it is sky high premiums and why not the same thing for a substance that is well known to cause sickness and cancer!
I am not sure if using cigarettes for a tax to try and fix the budget..whats next, soda pop, hamburgers? NO I do not think this is right.
Figure something out where everyone pays equally, maybe more cut backs in government, like lowering their paychecks and the ton of benefits they all get.
Thank you all.

Sin taxes, they used to be called.  Since the people who smoke and drink will eventually end up in hospitals on life support they cannot afford, and taxpayers will end up footing the bill, then, YES, tax the hell out of them NOW.  Legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use and tax that, as well.  You will then have enough money to balance the budget.  

my vote dont count. THEN THEY DONT NEED MY TAX MONEY

THATS IT . I'M GOING TO QUIT SMOOKING  B4 I'LL PAY MORE TAXS

THATS IT . I'M GOING TO QUIT SMOOKING  B4 I'LL PAY MORE TAXS

I don't believe that this can keep happening and why we can't do what we want. This is getting so out of hand and the people don't deserve this treatment. It is nothing but greed.