I am not a smoker and do not support an increase in tobacco taxes. I believe it is grossly unfair and is nothing more than a money grab. Why not raise the tax on beer and other alcohol products that contribute to drunk driving and the murder of thousands of innocent people every year?

I agree with you , I was a smoker, a quit 10 years ago & the increase of taxes will not go to education. Just like the % from lottery's is not that much help to our schools. If so how come the Illinois school district is hurting for money?

I have smoked and said I would quit when they hit $1 a pack. People won't stop because of the tax increase. They will stop spending the money on other things. I agree with Bill. Any increase in taxes is not something I will vote for. Next it will be soda, sugary cereals, etc.

I am not a smoker.

It's time for Missouri to get with the program. We've known it's a toxic mother___ing carcinogen since at least 1964. If people are going to smoke, and if I am going to be exposed to their second hand smoke, then smokers can weather the tax increase on their precious cigarettes. I don't have much sympathy for smokers, as there is pretty much no excuse to smoke post surgeon generals warning. Not having this tax makes Missouri look like a hillbilly state.

One problem is that politicians give tax breaks to businesses & the Super Rich 2 % who earn over 70 % of the money in this country but only pay 17 % or less in taxes. Look at Mitt Romney: he paid 14 or 17 % on 2 million. I pay 41.65 % Federal taxes on any profit or wages I earn. My income is piled on top of my wife's. We make under 100k. The only reason I work is to get out of the house and have something to do. But it may be cheaper to not work at all and save gas money.

That is NOT RIGHT or FAIR. Millionaires have politicians WRITE THE TAX LAWS.

Now they are talking about taxing mortgage interest payments AND Health Insurance PROVIDED BY your business. WTF?

I will probably vote yes. My dad smoked and because of that, I have lung & breathing problems. I never smoked.

Smokers only make up less than 24 % of Missourians. They could win, but this is a BIG election & turnout may well be in the 90 % range. Smokers made a good showing when St Louis County had it's smoking ban. 56 % voted yes, 44 % voted no.

So, the smokers & their ill advised friends ALMOST defeated the smoking ban. I doubt that 24 % will ever get 50 % plus 1 vote to win.

I am not a smoker and I am voting no on prop B. I understand the taxes will go for a good cause but now is not a good time to raise taxes on this issue. We are already taxed to death. The taxes on your house goes up and the value goes down. Gas prices keep going up, food, utilities ect.. and income goes down with layoffs, cutbacks, job freezes ect... you get the hint. This is not a good time to pass this.

Several years ago, Clarence Thomas came to town. I had the chance to meet him that day and he invited me to attend his speech that night. After a very interesting speech on the SCOTUS, he opened the floor to questions. A very naive and liberal teacher stepped forward with her notes. She asked him, "I read where you said you would have voted against Brown v Board. How could you as a black man vote against this landmark case." Justice Thomas smiled at her gotcha moment. He quietly said, "yes, I understand the importance of the case to blacks, but I would have voted against it because it phased out racial discrimination over time. I think the Court should have ended it immediately." The teacher slunk back to her chair, roundly chastened. I feel the same way about this Proposition. Cigarettes serve no productive function. One in ten users will get lung cancer. Many others will die of heart attacks or other related medical conditions. Why do we continue to permit them to be sold? There is only one reason and that is the government's addiction to the tax revenue. When will our cowardly leaders have the courage to say what needs to be said? The seventh floor at the Barnes Center for Advanced Medicine is not the location of the Department of Ophthalmology. However, a trip there by our lawmakers would probably cure their myopia about smoking. It is the site where lung cancer patients get chemotherapy in hopes of extending their lives.

After 30 years of smoking two or more packs a day, I quit smoking 11 years ago. Will I vote yes? No! After watching the state legislators reappropriate casino tax income and the revenue from the tobacco settlement, I don't trust Jeff City to really use the money for the stated purpose. Put something on the ballot that is iron-clad and I will support it big time.

I think it is terrible. And I am not a smoker!

I am not a smoker either but I will also be voting no. I am tired of being told taxes will go towards education and end up being diverted elsewhere. Happened with gambling taxes. Teens know tobacco kills,adults know it kills. My daughter smokes and I know that no amount of tax will stop her from lighting up. I am unhappy with the politicians who make decisions for this state so I refuse to give them anymore of my money.

Obviously freedom is a difficult concept for some of you bleeding heart liberals. Shouldn't people be free to ingest into their own bodies what they want? Or do you think freedom is living the way you think orhers should live ?Here is is middle finger salute to all of you Obamaoids. What about taxing liberals? Think about the brain damage that us freedom loving people endure being forced to deal with the 22% of those who have a liberal perspective! What does that cost society? Missouri will vote no on b and no on Obama. Nothing you doped up libs say or write will change this outcome.

I'm voting yes all the way, and I will continue to vote yes until they are outright banned, this is a disgusting habit that has taken every family member I have lost from me. I know this wont be a popular opinion but I really don't care what anyone else thinks. This also has absolutely nothing to do with who I'm voting for. It's a personal choice based on my life experiences.

WTF does "bleeding heart" mean? Is that some obsolete '60s slang?

By the way, willful ignorance isn't freedom. If you're defending smokers' rights, you are clearly turning a blind eye to half a century of science. Willful ignorance is the path to being owned, in this case by a freedom lovin' tobacco lobby. We've known cigs are a toxic death trap for 50 years. I mean, if you're all for freedom, I'll gladly stop subsidizing your health care expenses. Pay for your lung cancer treatments yourselves for all I care. Die in the street. I don't care. It's a ___ing gross habit, and I am glad to tax it.

The ultimate ignorance is fueled by arrogance. The arrogant liberal is a danger to society. Beware the do-gooders!

Well, I see several people that want to raise taxes on cigarettes because you don't smoke. When the state needs more tax revenue (money grab) maybe it will be something you use or eat. Modern day foods are fairly toxic (GMO corn, wheat, sugar beets, etc) that are known to cause liver problems, cancer, weight gain, etc), so lets tax those things that are putting people in hospitals also. And more gasoline tax. I don't drive much, so it won't bother me if they raise a the gas tax. Maybe $1 a gallon. Won't affect me, but will grab billions in taxes. That will teach your children to drive conservatively.

A Rose is a Rose by any other name and so a Tax is a Tax by any other name. I agree that smoking is an addictive filthy habit that unfortunately has been promoted over the century. As mentioned above...if it's bad...do away with tobacco. There are some screwy things that happen in this country. Tobacco subsidies were virtually zero in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. In 2008 thru 2011(no records for 2012 yet)subsidies were almost $200 million a year.

You may have heard some inaccurate information about where funds from Prop B will go, and we want to make sure you have all the facts.

Prop B specifically allocates the money for specific purposes:
- 50% for K-12 education
- 30% for public higher education
- 20% for tobacco prevention and quit assistance

The money from Prop B is separately accounted for, enhancing transparency and accountability.
Language in Prop B makes clear that this is to be "new money" and not a substitute for previous general revenue commitments.

A second provision makes clear that Prop B is to be treated as new funding and not as a substitute for any other fund source.

All funds from Prop B are subject to annual audits by the State Auditor, with the findings made public.
It's important that you know the truth about Proposition B. Funds from this critical initiative will help address Missouri's health, smoking, and school funding problems through a $.73 tax increase per pack of cigarettes and increased taxes on other tobacco products.

For more information on Prop B, please contact showmeabrighterfuture@gmail.com
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay
Missouri 1st District Lead
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Karen. If the tax reduces smoking in MO then where will the money come from to fund these new initiatives? Also if a cure for cancer is found would you loose your job? Could the American Cancer society be dependent on cancer not being cured? After all what you and your colleagues do if cancer was indeed cured?

Prop B includes SAFEGUARDS to ensure that revenue is spent as voters intend, including regular public audits and ballot language that ensures that this money will ADD to existing funding. Prop B also establishes the Health and Education Trust Fund so that revenue goes DIRECTLY to education and tobacco prevention/cessation!

Learn more about Prop B safeguards today! http://bit.ly/PropBSafeguards

Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay - Volunteer
1st Missouri District Lead
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Cigs are nasty, dude. Deal with it.

What about an Obama tax? Charge a tax for anyone voting for Obama and use the proceeds to cure the same people from their liberal mental disorder that caused them to vote for Obama to begin with. Same logic as prop b!

You old, senile republicans are the reason our nation is going backwards. You say you care about our future generation and its problem of the deficit? If you cared about the future generation you wouldn't be so selfish and tight with your money that you blatantly deny any taxes that may help our poor schools. As a student of Mehlville High School, a school who tries it's best with the money it's allotted, it truly appalls me that our people could care so little. Care so little that they strike down even the smallest taxes that would help our schools astronomically. Shame on all of you selfish bastards that blame your "no" vote on propositions like Prop B for utter sh--ery reasons like "freedom to choose what I ingest" and "shadiness of allotment of funds". How about you actually APPROVE a proposition, come check out our school before it is enacted and check it out after. You'd see how much it meant to us. We were without Internet for more than a week because of the outdated infrastructure we rely on because we don't have a tech budget to fund it. Why don't we have a budget? Because YOU selfish, penny-pinching republican filth keep striking us down. Shame on you for denying us a workable learning environment that students of comparable school districts have, and may your freedom to ingest whatever you choose lead you to ingest arsenic and end your miserable self-centered existences.

If I remember the stats correctly, Missouri is dead last, 50th, in cigarette tax rate. Even with this increase, we'll move closer to the middle and still be cheaper than Illinois. Contrary to many online here, I DO know a number of 30+ yr smokers who decided to quit when costs increased. The stats are also that new smokers are less likely to start with an increased price.
Meanwhile, the medical needs of smokers and those who've been negatively affected by 2nd hand smoke is financially costly not just to them and insurance companies, but to society who ends up picking up the tab for too many. Also not to be ignored are the large number of youth who've been exposed to second hand smoke and have developed asthma from it according to large studies.
Those are some facts. Admittedly, emotions motions run high with this and smoking addiction is extremely difficult to kick, often taking 5-7 tries before full success.
Since studies show a drop in smokers when prices increase, isn't this increase a compromise?

Flyoverland, you're severely brainwashed if you think the real issue is who smokes or not. Congrats on the typical conservative rhetoric. The issue is our lack of funding, whatever the means. Our students are not going to be competing with your generation which had no computers, we will be competing with other students of our same generation who have them. Students from school districts who care like Kirkwood, Parkway, and Rockwood. We will be competing with them in the workplace and in admissions to higher education. You are all doing us a disservice by refusing to give pennies on the dollar to our schools to give us a chance. I've never heard of a person who lost their house due to high education taxes. And if they have, they're in fault for buying one they couldn't afford. People in India, China and other nations who focus on education give half of their incomes to education. And THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SMARTER THAN US. Thats why they're better and more competitive in the world of work. It all starts with school. If you guys would ever like for your nation to succeed, you'd better start investing now rather than complaining that it sucks and that it should be fixed. Repair the broken record for once!! Give us a chance!

Subject & Facts: Nationally health costs & reduced productivity costs attributed to smoking are $10.47 per pack of cigarettes. State cigarette excise tax rates vary widely, ranging from a high of $4.35 in New York to a low of $0.17 in MO. NY City has the highest combined city & state cigarette tax in the country with a total tax of $5.85 per pack. For evey 10 % increase in the retail price of a pack of cigarettes, youth smoking rates drop by 6.5 % & overall cigarette comsumption declines by 4%. Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay -Volunteer
ACS CAN MO 1st District Lead

Instead of, or in addition to, a tax like this, who would support actually helping the budget deficit? Who will support ending the subsidies for tobacco? This is costing us money coming and going. At least we can stop taxpayer support for actually growing the stuff.

FACTS: Currently, the average state cigarette excise tax is $1.49 per pack. In the past 10 years, only three states- California, Missouri and North Dakota have not raised their cigarette tax. Last year the tabacco industry spent $50 million to defeat an intiative in Calif, far more than public health advocates spent to support it. That one state could have saved more than 104,000 lives, stopped more than 228,000 kids from smoking & invested more than $500 million annually into cancer research in California. Ilinois however successfully increased its cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack, which resulted in 53,400 adults quitting who currently smoke and 72,700 kids in Iliniois who will not become addited adult smokers.
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay- Volunteer
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Missouri 1st Congressional District Lead

Wouldn't this make Missouri more desirable? How can high taxes on anything make a place more desirable than others? Y'all liberals have a mental disorder

I used to smoke 2 packs of Winston red labels per day for 25 years. I managed to quit without government intervention. But you are making a good point about the cig taxes being low in Missouri - maybe I should start smoking again when prop b fails!

Even with the increase, the taxes will be lower than Illinois. People who normally buy their cigarettes while in Missouri will still save money buying them here and will continue to, or better yet, quit as so many others do when the price goes up. There are still half the states whose cigarettes are more expensive than Missouri's will be.
I would still like to see the government tobacco subsidies cut. Confuses me to have the same people who want "entitlements" cut or discontinued completely, but protect corporate entitlements like those for tobacco that we all pay for in so many ways.

From reading many of the comments there are many views given but few that discuss whether it's the right thing to do. IMHO. As with the Lottery the target for the receipt of the funds is education. This somehow makes the Lottery and now the tax on cigs more right. So what is the real reason for Prop B? To get smokers to stop or to fund schools? Why not tax Zippo lighters too? What if all Missouri smokers decided to stop. Would it then matter if Missouri has a higher or lower tax rate than another state? Schools would recieve zero additional funding. Has anyone looked at the amount of revenue that would be generated? Who has seen the new Chicago strategy to reduce street crime that has gotten out of control up there? Well, they want to tax bullets. I bet if they said the funds would go to education it would be more widely accepted and reinforce it as a good idea. Does this give you a clue about the taxing mentality? I'm against smoking, but I'm also against taxation.

Once again, the Anti-tobacco lobbyist are trying to increase the state's revenue, this time under the cleverly disguised promise of, "It's for the children!" Yes, the same promises were given when the voters approved casinos and the lottery and most of the $$$ does go to education, but the state simply cuts normal education funding and spends that God knows where. Does Jeff City really think our voters are that stupid?
"Fool me once shame on you...."

Facts; The burden of tabacco use across the states, which results in more than 443,000 DEATHS & $193 BILLION in HEALTH CARE & productivity losses each year, is well known. We now have even better information on just how tabacco use effects one particular vulnerable population- youth and young adults- and the dramatic consequences of youth tobacco use on the health of our entire population. 2012 Surgeon General's report states 99% of tobacco users start before they are 26 yrs. old. Beginning regular tobacco use at a young age has serious health risks. Chronic diseases most associated with smoking, including lung cancer & respiratory & heart diseases, can begin to develop immediately upon starting to use tobacco and the health risks are greater for people who start early in life.
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay- Volunteer
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 1st MO District Lead

KCF Resident
I would have thought that the alcohol ban would have made you think. Prohibition does not work. All that will happen is people will go underground and get the prohibited item and keep on using it. Taxing a specific item will not work either. Just because the rate is higher on one item does not mean a person will not find a way around the tax. For example look at all the Federal lands around the state. You don't pay state tax on federal lands as they belong to the Federal Government.
I agree with the awareness problem as people don't think. I disagree with taxing a specific group for the benefit of all.

This needs to stop. Taxing and attaching more taxes is wrong. Where does it stop.. Tax the drunks and see what happens. Tax the wealthy tax the government lol

I vote yes. If raising taxes will help someone make the decision to quit smoking, I think it is worth it. I don't think I have ever met a person who regrets quitting.

Roy Blunt is married to a tobacco lobbyist, and a son was one as well. No wonder MO has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/oct/05/commonsense-ten/commonsense-ten-ad-accuses-roy-blunt-secretly-inse/

I'll tell you what would we should do instead to make money. Let's sell the southern third of the state to Arkansas or Tennessee.

Reducing Tobacco's Toll; WIth the death of more that 443,000 Americans each year, causes nearly 90% of lung cancer deaths, and is responsible for nearly 1/3rd of all cancers, tobacco-related illnesses are expensive and impact ALL OF US. With cost of over $193 BILLION in direct & indirect health care costs, the tobacco industry spends more than $11 BILLION A YEAR- $34 million EACH DAY- to addict new, young smokers and keep current smokers hooked. Most adult smokers become addited as kids, and each day, 4,100 children try smoking for the 1st time.
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay- Volunteer
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
MO 1st District Lead

This is just another example of how they use your children & their education against you to get you to increase taxes. Less than 1% of this money goes to education, it's the same scam as always.

Facts: The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network supports a comprehensive approach to tackling tobacco use through policies that; Raise the price of all tobacco products through regular and significant tobacco tax increases; Implement comprehensive smoke-free policies, & fully fund and sustain evidence-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Like a 3-legged stool, each component works in conjunction with the others & all three are necessary to overcome this country's tobacco epidemic. ACS CAN works in partnership with state and local policymakers across the country to ensure tobacco use is addressed comprehensively in each community.
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Missouri 1st District Lead

Some here have asked why we don't put high taxes on unhealthy foods, etc. Big difference.
Smoking exposes others to the toxins AND helps to begin the craving for nicotine. No one eating a hot dog or other food has that effect, especially innocent children.

Theoretical facts??? I'm not saying it wouldn't work but stop representing these as facts.

Facts and the challenge. By increasing taxes on cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, smokeless tobacco and all other tobacco products (OTPs), states can save lives, reduce health care costs & generate much needed revenue. Evidence clearly shows that raising tobacco prices through regular & significant tax rate increases encourages tobacco users to quit or cut down and prevents kids from ever starting to smoke. OTP usage rates amoug youth have increased in recent years. For example, smokeless tobacco use increased by 15% amoung youth ages 12-17 between 2003 & 2010. Further compouding the issue, some OTPs, such as "orbs," look like candy and use flavorings to appeal to kids. Low taxes on these products in conjunction with tobacco "companies" marketing practices make OTPs attractive to this population.
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay- Volunteer
ACS CAN 1st MO District Lead

Hey patch editors - why are you afraid of free speech? You have selectively taken a couPle of my post. Were they profane? No! Hateful? No! Disagreed with goofy liberals? Yes!

Better tax soda and fast food, too. That is also just as horrible as smoking and drinking. There is an all time high on obesity...but don't worry...we will just raise healthcare for that. Big government...gotta love it!!!!!

PS. The people that make posts about the higher taxes making people quit are just stupid. They obviously haven't smoked. Additionally, I'm sure they have bad habits and/or addictions that are or could negatively impact their health. So STOP judging and punishing one group. Smokers can't smoke anywhere anymore...so I highly doubt the smokers are affecting you!!!!!

I love how these people tell you that you are "brainwashed" if you think a 760% tax increase is out of hand. What do you have to be to think it isn't?
You are crazy if you don't think an unaccountable group of people with a gambling problem & your pocket as an endless ATM should handle all of your money.
You just need to shut-up, quit applying logic, and give them all of your jobs & money. You should just be happy to kiss their butts for maybe giving some of it back to you.
Just stop being "brainwashed". Taxes fix everything & government money is all that counts. What YOU have to spend, or what YOU think should be done with those tax-dollars is irrellevant, so just deal with it. Who do you think you are? A taxpayer (former goods & services purchaser)?
These people love to tell you how stupid you are, yet can't figure out how to do anything without needing the government to do it for them.
You're brainwashed if you think taxes have consequences, the theory of relativity doesn't apply to taxes, that's how we take care of all the poor that result from all of these taxes.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids expects a yearly drop in cigarette pack sales of around 157,615,632.11 per year, resulting in a decline in state, county & municipal revenues to the tune of $67.7 million per year.
That's what they think works, higher taxes, resulting in reduced revenue. Guess what they'll think they need to do again pretty soon.
Even though they don't get it, it isn't rocket science.

Having been a smoker, over two packs a day before putting them down in 1988, I understand how hard it is to overcome such an addictive habit. Also, my mom who happen to be my best friend lost her fight to cancer due to years of smoking. She was so young 58 yrs old. In the last days of her life she had much pain struggling to take those last few gasp of air. There is no doubt how smoking affects loved ones who have to stand by and watch!
Thank you for listening,
Karen McKay- Volunteer
ACS CAN 1st Missouri District Lead

I own a cigar store in Missouri. Prop B will eventually put me out of business. If you take a serious look at what we (tobacconists) currently pay in taxes ~ the Federal SCHIP tax on every cigar (roughly .41cents a cigar) and then 10% of the manufacturer's gross invoice price for the MO tobacco cigar tax. Example ~ a wholesale price on a box of cigars is $75.00 - the SCHIP tax adds an additional $8.20 and then MO tobacco tax adds another $7.50. My end cost is $90.70 with $15.70 of that being tobacco TAXES. Keep in mind this is paid before a product has even left my store. At some point, our state will overtax a product such as tobacco that it will move on to something else. What's next? Sugar products, Cola, etc? What happens to small brick and mortar stores like mine? We lose business to our neighboring states with lower tobacco taxes or to internet sales. We are already facing a rough economy and myself, like many other small other business, have been trying to survive but higher taxation isn't the answer. Regardless of whether your smoke or are a cigar enthusiast or enjoy pipe/pipe tobacco or RYO ~ the increase of a "sin tax" is a bad idea. I'll be voting NO on Prop B and hope that others are tired of the thought that higher taxes or more taxes is better! Giving our government more $$$ is not the solution. Supporting local stores, supporting your local community, choosing to shop local versus online ~ that makes a difference.

What does smoking have to do with "Education"?
Taxes--steal our Freedom-- When will you people come to understand that.
Lynching mobs and liberals have similar goals! (That is-Let the Majority rule).

Picking on a minority "smokerperson" "Taxpayer" "human being" living in Missouri under the "LIFE-LIBERTY-PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS" of the US constitution is
subjected to the "Kangaroo court of Public Education".

A Tobacco tax designated for "Educators"????
"Taxation without representation". This country will soon be ruled by our public education system.
Better stop idolizing Teachers, because that is how "rulers" gain control.
I would tax only "Teachers that smoke". (AT DOUBLE THE RATE)

If you think a 760

If you believe a 760% increase on any legal product is not draconian then you've been smoking something other than tobacco. Outrageous is too mild a word for those in love with the nanny state. The single issue health fanatics greatest arguement is missouri taxes on a legal product is too low. The fact that taxes are that low should be applauded not attacked. As usual the working class, poor and small businesses will suffer from this draconian tax. If the proponents of this fanatical tax want taxes to fund education place a tax on products that effect everyone. How about a ten cent tax on all pizzas sold. Not a chance!

Prop B proceeds - budget cuts from legislature = 0 net for education.. NO on Prop B.

Stealing your Freedom! Both smokers & non-smokers!
Raising any product tax for the sole purpose of "spending it on" higher pay for educators is NOT good for Missouri.
The poor and blue-collar smokers "Should not be" called upon for additional support to Education. Education support should come from the "State". (Not directly from one product sales).
Memo to Any Democrat-- Smoker!
Vote Republican and you will never be faced with such "back-door" Taxing.
This tobacco tax is a sham tax directed to the poor and middle-class smokers to pay a higher share of public education costs.
Don't be fooled.
Any democrat smoker should know that voting Republican would be a wise vote against any stupid "back-door" tobacco tax.
This tobacco tax increase is a payment for more teacher raises.
If you smoke--this tax will be raised again. The only beneficiaries of making you stop smoking would be Teachers. This is unfair and probably unconstitutional.
A tobacco tax proves how any "TAX" on any citizen takes away "Freedom"
It's called "stealing" in the form of taxation dedicated to the "Public education Regime".
Smokers have stated "their Freedom to smoke" is being slowly taken away.
Now that is exactly what Progressive LIBERALISM is all about.
(Stealing your Freedom in all forms of our lives)
Anyone voting FOR this Tobacco tax will enable future taxation of products WE ALL USE. (That, my friends is the goal of "THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION".)
Better vote NO!

You just won't be happy until this state is dead last in everything.

Here is my pure economic argument for voting FOR Prop B:

In the U.S. in 2010,
$96 billion in direct medical costs due to cigarette smoking
303 billion cigarettes sold = 15.2 billion packs sold

So each cigarette pack contributes $96/15.2 = $6.33 of direct medical costs to society. Of course, some people pay part, or maybe even all, of their own way. Most people can't and don't. So we give them free, or partially free, rides through our medical system.

The $193 billion figure includes productivity losses. I'll ignore those for now.

Just for comparison: New York, at $4.35 a pack, comes close to removing the economic externalities.

Missouri, at 17 pennies a pack, does not. Even 90 pennies isn't close enough for me. But it's a huge step in the right direction.

Prop B also closes the ridiculous tax difference between brands. Missouri is the only state that still has that.

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/economics/econ_facts/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality

Medicare is not a part of the constitution - the convenant between the citizens and the government. Defending our liberties is! Medicare enables people to friviously spend other peoples money on themselves - no program has ever been so innefficient, poorly ran and filled with fraud. Medicare is not health care! We would be vastly better off without it!

Sensible...it's neither an economic or emotional issue. It's a principal issue.
That's how they're trying to sell it.

'just ..... Wow'. A sure sign that the writer is a doped up liberal with no unique ideas or thoughts

Tobacco is bad, they should give the government more money. Smokers are annoying, they should pay the goverment more money. Blah Blah Blah.
All these people on here who are trying to make this about schools, STILL only have one solution for everything, yet they can't show you where higher taxes has ever fixed anything.
As in most cases, this tax-increase will be used as an excuse to cut spending that already currently goes to schools.

At Last! People are aware of the massive costs for Public schools.
Educators are sucking every hard earned dollar of Residents/Businesses by TAXING everything that is produced or sold. It will not stop at Tobacco.
It is time to cry "ENOUGH".
It is time to ask --Why is our public school system costing $10,000 per student while private K-12 can be had for $5,000 annual tuiitions.
Thank God for this Tobacco Tax Prop B attempt! It has truly exposed the "stealing" of all of your Home-Wealth in the name of Education.
I propose we split our public schools to Union Teachers and non-union wage classrooms. The time is ripe to start a petition for massive funding changes to our public schools.
Our Missouri Constitution needs to be amended. (It is obsolete and never imagined Basic education would turn into the Educators enrichment Act of 1825). The time is NOW!

I am for any TAX that builds roads, bridges, city services for all, and favors the needy and poor. Shelter and clothing and more "classrooms only" for basic education for those earn less than poverty level income.
I do not believe this Tobacco tax accomplishes any of the above.
As a matter of fact, this tobacco tax increase is more likely going to be used for future Wage increases to the already very well paid educators.
No one product should be singled out to support any public service.
VOTE NO on this unfair tobacco tax increase.

Isn't it funny that The Missourian tries these Nuevo intellectual arguments like he is some kind of superior thought generator? What a joke! The Missourian is most likely a parasite that belongs to the teacher's union looking to suck more fat out of the system for him under the guise of education.

Those who say smoking only affects the person who smokes are really uneducated.
Not only is smoking dirty and smelly, it affects everyone.

Just because smoking is banned most places, doesn't mean people smoke any where they please. When I enter and exit a business I always have to walk through what an inconsiderate smoker left. When I'm driving on a cool day, I can't open my windows, because the smoke from a nearby car fills the cabin of my car, makes me stink, and agravates my allergies. And the cigarette butts that are constantly tossed out the windows of those smokers' cars? Litter and pollution! The health care resources spent on smokers affects everyone as well.

I don't want to breathe the smoke and I don't want to spend my day smelling like an ashtray. The taxes on tobacco in this state will still be one of the lowest in the nation. People will still buy their smokes here.

In the same vein, funding for schools doesn't just benefit the student; it benefits EVERYONE. Just because you don't have a school-aged child, doesn't mean you don't benefit from having a good (in some cases, excellent) school district in your area. If it doesn't currently benefit your child, it will benefit your grandkids, nieces, nephews, neighbors' kids. It adds to the value of your home. It benefits the community at large. We have some of the best schools in the country. There are supposed to be safeguards in Prop B. I'm trusting they will work.

I am tired of having these initiatives aimed solely at smokers pop up on every ballot.

Ban smoking in government buildings. Ban smoking in public places -- except the casinos, because, you know, money -- against the wishes of the public places' owners. Raise taxes on tobacco to fund stuff "for the children". "For the children." Bullcrap.

It has been said in these comments that people don't like other people that smoke because they smoke. It has nothing to do with funding education. It has everything to do with eliminating smoking. Anyone that tells you different is a liar.

If the forces aligned against tobacco would focus on ALL sin and luxury, they wouldn't seem to be such pricks. Go after alcohol, condoms, cheeseburgers, the casinos, or "herbal supplements".

Add five cents to each bottle or can of beer and see how much money you get. Tack on 25 cents to every shot, straight, or mixed drink. Add a dime to every fast food purchase, call it "The Fat Tax". Fornicators should be punished as well. A buck a rubber. Juice heads are hurting themselves and so therefore must be taxed. Twelve bucks a year on gym memberships and $2.50 for each mega super ultra humongous sized jar of protein powder. Take your pick.

Eventually the anti-smoking cadre will get their bill passed. All they have to do is cry "It's for 'The Children®'" and people will sign anything. Then they will do it again and again and again.

Damned zealots.

Give our state congress time and they will find a way to once again decide that the people of Missouri really don't know what they want - even after voting for or against it - and put it into effect anyway.

Cheeseburgers aren't a sin unless you're eating the kind that's slathered with bacon and is big enough to feed a family. Fornicators aren't the only people who use condoms. Gym memberships and "herbal supplements" are hardly luxuries.

Why single out working people to pay federal taxes for people's retirement income, disability, or health insurance? We should tax those who don't work as well! Oh, that's right -- that tax is okay because I'm not really paying taxes for other people. I'm paying taxes for MYSELF! Taxes aren't a sore subject as long as I benefit from it, because isn't that what taxes are all about?

I guess you could use your argument against all taxes - we shouldn't be taxed at all for anything, because we're all such generous folk that we'll pay for other's needs of our own volition. Sure.

On a related note - that idiotic ballot measure blocking the gov from implementing the health insurance exchange? It will be overturned by the courts. So to all voters who pretend to be concerned with the state's revenue picture, you: 1) voted against a tobacco measure that would have generated several hundred million in education funding, 2) voted for a measure that will most certainly be overturned after costly litigation at your state's expense, 3) demonized Claire McCaskill for supporting the ACA, a bill that gives you a ton of new leverage with your health insurer. What exactly am I missing here? Because this sounds like the actions of a crazy person.

If people would actually LEARN about and UNDERSTAND what they are voting for/against and voting with their HEADS and not their hearts.....

Cigarettes would be more expensive then the street value of heroin, this is absurd! All for one, one for all!

I wouldn't know the street value of heroin. But it's illegal - so, maybe you're suggesting cigarettes should be made illegal and therefore not subject to taxation?

Or, maybe you're suggesting we should make cigarettes and heroin more affordable for everyone so we can all die of emphysema, lung cancer, overdose, and HIV! Yay! What a great way to solve the world's problems of hunger and overpopulation!!

Ms. C.: http://ofallon.patch.com/articles/yes-on-raising-tobacco-taxes-as-prop-b-asks#comment_5391950

I was being facetious and hyperbolic. I enjoy the occasional cheeseburger. I had one this afternoon, actually. Just like the one you described. A Jack in the Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger. It was blissful. Don't tell my doctor.

My point was simple: If "they" want to tax things, don't tax one thing a lot, tax a lot of things a little bit. "They" would if it really was "for the children©". It's not about that. It's that "they" don't like tobacco products and "they" want to make smoking impossible without trying Prohibition II.

"We're not going to stop everyone, but most Missourians do want to quit," said Misty Snodgrass, government relations director for the American Cancer Society. "This is truly about saving lives and keeping kids from ever starting to smoke."

It had nothing to do with education. That was just a hook. The tax money had to go SOMEWHERE, so why not link it to children? It wouldn't have mattered; the money would have ended up in the general coffers after balancing cuts were made to education, just like the casino and lottery money.

MO Legislature: "The Dept. of Education gets $200 million* from the boats and the lotto? Okay, we'll lower their general revenue funding by $200 million* and we get more money! Let's buy a puppy mill!"

* $200 million is not an actual budgetary amount. It is used as a random amount for this example.

Safeguards were to have been put in place to prevent the money from ending up in the general coffers (like the lottery money). In the actual "language of the actual ballot question" (as Kurt Greenbaum says in the article above):

"All of the moneys from the taxes imposed by this section shall be kept separate from the general revenue fund as well as any other funds or accounts in the state treasury and shall be credited to and placed only in the Health and Education Trust Fund and the accounts created within the Health and Education Trust Fund. Any moneys credited to and placed in the Health and Education Trust Fund and any account created by this section shall be appropriated and used only for purposes which are authorized by this section and shall not be subject to the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo. The unexpended balances of such moneys shall remain in the Health and Education Trust Fund and in the particular account in which the moneys are placed, and such balances shall not revert to the general revenue fund. All interest which accrues upon the moneys in any account within the Health and Education Trust Fund shall be added to such account and shall not be credited to the general revenue fund." http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012ballot/PropB.asp

As I said before, if people would actually learn about what they are voting for/against and vote with their heads more and their hearts less....

It really would have been "about the children".