Yeah, let's have more of them there 'sin taxes' in Florida

Florida needs to balance our budget.  As I've noted before, we've increased 'sin taxes' on cigarettes because, well...hell, who gives a rats ass about smokers, right?

Well, guess what?  If you smoke, we might just screw you over again. Maybe not right now, but sometime.  Other states are considering it....and we need the bucks.

Across the country, states big and small are facing significant budget gaps.  In California, the worst case by far, candidates for state office are debating how to close a $19 billion budget deficit.  In Florida, meanwhile, another multi-billion dollar budget hole is on the cards, and looks set to grow with oil drilling off the Florida coast now off the table.  Still other states are facing similar situations, if on a less disastrous scale.  While many serving in statehouses nationwide will advocate for spending cuts, as opposed to tax increases, in some states, tax hikes are already being put on the table, with so-called “sin taxes” demonstrating renewed appeal.
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In Florida, where ongoing budget woes are anticipated, concern exists that legislators could jack up cigarette taxes again.  Last year, the State Senate—including its Republican members, led by Senate President Jeff Atwater and budget committee chief J.D. Alexander—unanimously voted to increase cigarette taxes by $1 a pack.  The House ultimately played ball, too, and Gov. Charlie Crist gave a thumbs up to the tax hike, which was expected to bring in anything from $700 million to $1 billion.
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At the end of the day, taxing those with a hard-to-break habit looks like easy pickings to those on the search for easy money.  But, critics say, revenue from cigarette tax increases is more akin to Fool’s Gold than anything else, and those attempting to close state budget deficits should be wary of relying on them.

So read the rest of it. 

Hey, Fool's Gold (above) is still gold(en) right?