Tucson News Now: Should e-cigarettes be taxed in Arizona?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Posted: Oct 26, 2014 9:44 PM Updated: Oct 27, 2014 5:40 AM
By Craig Reck

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -A $1 billion shortfall in the state budget by 2016 could be reason for state lawmakers to tax electronic cigarettes.

It's one of several possibilities, according to State Rep. Stefanie Mach from Tucson. She said a tax on e-cig would not fix the problem completely, but it could help the problem.

"It's not a silver bullet," she said. "But we need to start talking about this now."

She said it's too soon to have specifics about the plan, but she considers it an idea that is not defined by party lines.

Emily Moreno, a cigarette smoker in Tucson, said she spends about $300 each month on her habit. She said some of her friends have quit traditional tobacco products for the electronic alternative, and increasing prices a bit should not be an issue.

Read more @ http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/27020028/should-e-cigarettes-be-taxed-in-arizona

[Warpy]

1. I don't want to see any disincentive to e-cigs

It would make me very happy to see people stop smoking and start vaping because it doesn't make me vomit and go into bronchospasm the way cigarette smoke does.

If you want less of something, tax it. If you want more of something, subsidize it or declare it illegal.

[Eleanors38]

2. If you want Prohibition, Inc., over-tax it.