Kevin Kane, president of the Pelican Institute, provided some serious knowledge this week in the New Orleans Times-Picayune re: HB 63, legislation that would raise the state tobacco excise tax:
The authors tout the wonders that another $250 million would bring. Several of the items in their grab bag are of dubious value, but perhaps we should start with a simple question: Does anyone believe we are getting enough for the $25 billion we are already spending? Health care and education outcomes simply do not support the case for throwing more money at problems that have resisted the best efforts of central planners. To say nothing of the fact that we would have a more robust economy if less money was taken from the private sector. Given these facts, voter skepticism to higher taxes and more spending is understandable