Magic cigarette tax increase strikes again

Repeatedly this year, we have heard from various Frankfort figures about how a seventy cents a pack cigarette tax increase would provide health insurance and better schools for children, cut smoking, build roads, and save the state.

Not one to be one-upped in a tax-hiking, big-spender bidding war, Rep. Kathy Stein (D-Lexington) added one to the list by claiming that this same tax increase would help pay for overspending on public employee healthcare.

That deficit is nearly $30 billion dollars. Smoke up!