The failure of the House Ways and Means Committee to allow House Bill 75 (cigarette tax) to be brought before the full House of Rep. is a disservice to the people of Louisiana. It is truly the right of every citizen to choose if they want to use tobacco or not, that is a right that should never be decided my lawmakers. That said, it is not the right of those who choose to use tobacco products to burden the state with a $1.47 billion health care cost related to smoking as stated by Dr. Charles Brown who teaches at the L.S.U. School of Public Health in New Orleans. Every penny of the proposed tax would have gone to health care in the state if this Bill was passed. One of the first departments that had their funding cut was STATE HEALTH CARE. The governor and some of his supporters don't think that new money should be found to support the health of Louisiana citizens, which this bill would have done.
House Bill 75 ( cigarette tax) should have been allowed to have a full house hearing and let the people be informed and have time to express their thoughts to those who SHOULD represent them, and do as the people want and not listen to those who aspire to run for national office or big lobby firms.
What really gets me is when those who vote against something, as Rep. Mike Danahay did, and say his vote was "very emotional and a difficult decision". Well Mr. Danahay when you vote for or against something, you should feel good and proud because you feel it was the right thing to do, not feel emotional or difficult because outside pressure made you do something you aren't sure was the right thing to do. Mr. Danahay voted "NO" to allowing the Bill to be brought before the full House of Rep. When those elected listen to the people
who elected them, they will never go wrong. An open and full debate is always the best for everyone on such issue as State Health care and its cost.
Jimmy Black
Sulphur La.
