new taxes don't curtail tobacco use, act as protectionism for Phillip Morris

JF

Decent opinion piece - the editorialist makes the case that the new tobacco taxes don't curtail use, are regressive, and act as protectionist measures, preventing new or smaller companies from competing for market share. Further, he makes the case that tobacco taxes will never be raised to such a level as to curtail use, as most state budgets are now at least partially built around the revenue they provide.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/18/burned_by_a_tobacco_bill_97046.html