Govenor is cutting seek money

[Mr.Fundamental]

What this means, is that your children are going to be in bigger classrooms. The seek money helps pay for teachers. His reasoning stems from a budget crisis. However, I believe that this is a ploy to get gambling passed! What are your thoughts...

[AcesFull]

Budget crises are a necessary precursor to tax increases. Grab your wallet, Kentucky, a new sheriff is in town and he needs your support.

[AcesFull]

News flashes! Sun rises in east! Dog bites man! Democrats consider tax hike!

 

Key Democrats support increasing cigarette tax to ease expected shortfall

 

FRANKFORT --

The state's two leading Democratic lawmakers would rather consider raising the cigarette tax than cutting education funding in the next two-year budget.

 

House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, and Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, have shown newfound interest in a possible tax increase on cigarettes since Thursday night, although both stopped short of saying they will vote for any tax increase.

 

Richards said there is growing support in his Democratic-controlled chamber for boosting the cigarette tax, which now stands at 30 cents a pack, one of the lowest rates in the nation.

 

"I don't think a cigarette tax increase is the worst thing that ever came down the pike," Richards said Friday.

[KY Thorobred]

News flashes! Sun rises in east! Dog bites man! Democrats consider tax hike!

 

Key Democrats support increasing cigarette tax to ease expected shortfall

 

FRANKFORT --

The state's two leading Democratic lawmakers would rather consider raising the cigarette tax than cutting education funding in the next two-year budget.

 

House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, and Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, have shown newfound interest in a possible tax increase on cigarettes since Thursday night, although both stopped short of saying they will vote for any tax increase.

 

Richards said there is growing support in his Democratic-controlled chamber for boosting the cigarette tax, which now stands at 30 cents a pack, one of the lowest rates in the nation.

 

"I don't think a cigarette tax increase is the worst thing that ever came down the pike," Richards said Friday.

 

I would rather a tax increase on smokes than a cut from the educational funds.

[MoreheadEagle]

And since I don't smoke I don't have to worry about it. Bashear inherited this mess.

[AcesFull]

I would rather a tax increase on smokes than a cut from the educational funds.

The state government is pretty bloated. There are lots of areas ripe for spending cuts besides education.

 

When politicians threaten education, they are counting on taxpayers coming to the rescue with more cash. It is no coincidence that when there is a budget shortfall, politicians often raise the prospect of cuts to education programs. Actually, they have no intention of making the cuts but they have every intention of raising taxes.

 

Smokers tend to be less educated, poorer, and less politically connected than non-smokers. They are easy targets. Eventually, Democrats will find a way to tap the rest of us for "revenue enhancements."

[KY Thorobred]

The state government is pretty bloated. There are lots of areas ripe for spending cuts besides education.

 

When politicians threaten education, they are counting on taxpayers coming to the rescue with more cash. It is no coincidence that when there is a budget shortfall, politicians often raise the prospect of cuts to education programs. Actually, they have no intention of making the cuts but they have every intention of raising taxes.

 

Smokers tend to be less educated, poorer, and less politically connected than non-smokers. They are easy targets. Eventually, Democrats will find a way to tap the rest of us for "revenue enhancements."

 

Really?

[Habib]

I would rather a tax increase on smokes than a cut from the educational funds.

 

I agree. But is the cutting of education funds a tactic to get the tax increase passed, or is the tax increase the result of not having enough funds for education?

[AcesFull]

Really?

Yes, really. There are wealthy, well educated, politically connected smokers, but there are many more who are not. That is why politicians feel comfortable in going after the smokers as a group so often.

[AcesFull]

Median Net Worth of young baby boomers by smoking status

 

Smoking taxes are very regressive. Increases hit the low end of the wage scale much harder than the upper end.

[IM4THEHOUNDS]

Hold on because here comes the big play for casino gaming. Of course, this will be the best answer to the budget crisis! (NOT)

[NEXT]

By cutting SEEK money the new Gov. is sacrificing the future for today.......pretty stupid move.................

[Habib]

Public universities in Kentucky are being asked to return 3% of their budget this year and, potentially, 12% the next as well.

[75center]

And since I don't smoke I don't have to worry about it. Bashear inherited this mess.

 

And??? So has ever other governor for decades! What happens as fewer people smoke and the tax base shrinks?

[MoreheadEagle]

And??? So has ever other governor for decades! What happens as fewer people smoke and the tax base shrinks?

 

I agree there are other things the governor could cut before raising taxes, but I don't see a cigarette tax as a "tax hike". As less people smoke they'll have to find something else. Casinos could help some and so could cutting spending. It's going to have to be a combination of things.