Bring back the tobacco tax

Over at the Multnomah County Democrats' blog, Moses Ross is calling on Oregonians to rise up and demand the restoration of the tobacco tax - which went by the wayside last year.

As he points out, it would bring in $28 million directly from Oregonians - plus another $42 in federal matching funds.

Another key item:

When the tobacco tax was eliminated last year, Oregon became the only state in a decade to lower its cigarette tax. When the tobacco tax was eliminated, cigarette prices did not decrease. Vendors are pocketing money that had paid for health care and tobacco-cessation services

Check it out, and discuss over there.