Gov. Daniels’ Cigarette Tax Hike

Following the lead of Governor Ted Kulongoski in Oregon, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is pushing a statewide healthcare plan to be funded through an increase in the cigarette tax. The increase would raise Indiana’s 55.5 cent tax an extra 25 cents. The tax passed its first hurdle Wednesday as the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee approved the plan by a 9-0 vote. Once again, we see our lawmakers punishing the taxpayers because they can’t control their spending habits. I guess smokers are easy targets in the eyes of Governor Daniels