Maybe We Really Do Need a Third Party

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  July 7th at 12:48 PM  | 

“The problem for the GOP is that it is in danger of fracturing, not because it has moved so far right, but because it refuses to actually practice what it preaches.” Senator Max Baucus of Montana receives campaign donations from the parent company of Phillip Morris. Senator Baucus then puts a provision in the highway transportation bill banning roll your own cigarette operations, a business | Read More »

But they said they weren’t going to raise cigarette taxes

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  February 19th at 10:06 AM  | 

This is getting ridiculous. Just about a month ago, I reminded Florida legislators that cigarette taxes used to balance the budget don’t work. To be clear here, if you want to get rid of cigarette smoking, raise taxes to the point people can’t afford it. That’s fine. But don’t say you are going to balance the budget with a cigarette tax increase because all the | Read More »

Why is it that when the economy tanks, politicians forget all about basic economics?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  January 21st at 01:25 PM  | 

Let’s review: As prices on a product go up, demand for a product decreases. As prices for a product go down, demand for a product increases. It’s basic economics. Florida is just the latest place where that’s happening. To close a gap in the state budget, the legislature is considering raising the cigarette tax. Being no fan of smoking, I’ve got zero problem with that. | Read More »