AMENDMENT 3 2006

I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MISSOURI AMENDMENT 3, THE SO-CALLED CIGARETTE TAX BEING PROPOSED FOR THE NOVEMBER 2006 ELECTION. THIS TAX IS 80 CENTS A PACK ON CIGARETTES, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE TAXING ALREADY IN PLACE!!!

WHILE I AM IN FAVOR OF FAIR TAXATION FOR OUR AILING HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS BEING OVERLOOKED BY THE PROPONENTS OF THIS TAX INCREASE.

I AM ONE OF YOUR TYPICAL SMOKERS, I.E., BECAME ADDICTED TO NICOTINE MANY YEARS AGO, AND HAVE TRIED TIME AFTER TIME TO QUIT. THE TOBACCO COMPANIES DID LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH WHEN THEY SAID NICOTINE IS NOT ADDICTIVE. MOST SMOKERS I KNOW DO NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY SMOKE!! SO WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO PUNISH SMOKERS WHEN WE ARE THE VICTIMS OF NICOTINE????? I JUST CANNOT WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT NOTION!! THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHING THE TOBACCO COMPANIES.

WHEN A PERSON IS ADDICTED TO SOMETHING, HE OR SHE HAS TO TRY TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF CONFIDENCE AND CALMNESS, IN ORDER TO STOP DOING IT. BUT WHEN PEOPLE START TREATING US LIKE CRIMINALS, ALL IT DOES IS ANGER US!!! LIKE I FEEL RIGHT NOW!!! THE AMOUNT OF THIS TAX INCREASE MAKES IT SEEM VERY MUCH LIKE PUNISHMENT!!!

ALSO, ACCORDING TO THE WORDING OF THE ARTICLE, ONLY FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THIS TAX IS GOING TO BE ALLOTED FOR PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT SMOKING, AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE ALLOTED FOR SMOKING CESSATION??? I HAVE NOT FOUND AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM IN ALL THE YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO QUIT!!

WHEN YOU READ THE ACTUAL WORDING, IT REALLY DOES SEEM LIKE A LOT OF PROGRAMS WILL BE DIPPING INTO THIS POT.

WHY CAN'T THEY PROPOSE SOMETHING THAT IS MORE ACROSS THE BOARD IN TAXATION? I MEAN, SPREAD IT OUT!!! OTHER PEOPLE DO HAVE VICES!!

SMOKERS ARE NOT CRIMINALS!!!

SMOKERS NEED AS MUCH HELP AS THEY CAN GET!!!

IT'S ABOUT HELPING THEM. NOT PUNISHING THEM!!!

THANK YOU.