CONSUMPTION TAXES GOOD, SIN TAXES GREAT:

U.S. would reap billions from $1 cigarette tax hike (Maggie Fox, Feb 10, 2010, Reuters)

Adding a $1 per pack tax to cigarettes could raise more than $9 billion a year for states, health advocates said on Wednesday, and a poll released with the study shows Americans would support such a tax.

The poll, conducted by International Communications Research, found 60 percent of voters would support the tax to help struggling states and would prefer it over other tax increases or budget cuts.