This is just another example of the ridiculous futility of the wide array of "solutions" to budgetary problems that Democrats always come up with: MORE TAXES! Not only that... but they don't even accomplish what the advocates try to argue, they just hit middle-class Anmericans who in times of crisis are the LAST group that needs to be hurting more during Economic harships in the United States.
>> Adam CA Tuesday, June 23, 2009 4:21 PM

Well California, when you elect progressives, you get progressive policies. If you keep voting for more taxes and a fascist nanny state you will get more taxes and a fascist nanny state. When are people going to wake up and stop looking to the government to give us things and protect us from ourselves? And as California goes, so goes the nation. And Adam, who is the Governor of California? Who gave us the first Stimulus Package and first Bailout? Not a Democrat. We need to stop with the Party nonsense. The Republicans and the Democrats are on the same team. The options are not Republican vs. Democrat they are Liberty vs. Tyranny. The Republicans and Democrats play for team Tyranny and until we realize that they will continue to win.
>> TCH Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:26 PM

How about that flat tax now?
>> Johnny from LA Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:08 AM

The sad fact of these tax increases is, like the article states, that these taxes hit low income people the most. While democrats "guarantee" they won't raise taxes on low income earners these taxes do exactly that albeit under the table. Low income Americans need to realize that when they elect democrats who argue for enormous new social programs the money has to come from somewhere and it can't be done just by soaking the rich. If anyone wants to see the failures of progressive government in action watch California. Remember social freedom is highly tied to economic freedom, "for a government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take from you everything you have" -Gerald Ford
>> Andy Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:12 AM

I'm going to go buy my Reds in Nevada.
>> SJD Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:33 AM

Ridiculous. Singling out one particular industry just leads into letting the government slowly taxing everything. Once the government sees that "fast food" is "bad" for you, they'll start taxing it higher to protect you from yourself. Bad, bad, bad. Check out this solution to the CA budget problem. Ridiculous. http://nationalgun.stereopress.com/?p=129
>> Alex Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:50 PM

Just another temporary measure to pay for state overspending.
>> Jeff Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:35 PM

Our federal government, as defined by the Constitution, protects no citizen from himself from doing himself harm. Rather the citizens doing harm to one another. Further, the federal government should have no legal responsibilities, regulations or mandatory overseeings of the populace as that is directly and lawfully the full responsibility of the states. Our government has slowly (more rapidly within the last months)invoked a total disregard of our founding fathers plan of a truely capitalistic, liberty and freedom enjoying nation. Cigarettes tax money are a mere pittance in the greed of power felt by the liberals. Keep hold of your "defenses", my friends, that will keep America from falling.
>> Joe Friday, June 26, 2009 8:40 PM