Don’t hike tobacco tax

As the state Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf continue to negotiate spending, taxes and the state budget, tobacco taxes remain on the table as an option.The problem with increasing taxes on tobacco is this rarely brings in the projected revenue to sustain adequate, long-term funding for government programs.

Tobacco taxes are an unreliable source of funding because once taxes increase, adult consumers often find other ways to purchase the product — across state lines, where it’s less expensive, or through the Internet.

http://triblive.com/opinion/letters/8891161-74/tobacco-taxes-state#axzz3jS7VbFE6