Reading through the paper yesterday, I noticed my favorite former governor, Terry Branstad, publicly announced his support for a 64-cent cigarette tax increase. I find his support for this measure to be completely unethical.

Since I’m a registered, politically active Republican and a non-smoker, this may come as a surprise, but I’m a Republican who stands on certain principles. What good will come from a 64-cent tax increase on cigarettes?

“The higher the level, the more impact on usage,” Branstad says. Obviously his motive is to discourage smoking, perhaps to the point of making it nearly impossible to afford on most people’s budgets. I think what these lawmakers really want to do is stamp out smoking altogether.

Although this may be better for society as a whole, I see a gigantic infringement of rights in that proposition. I believe lawmakers see that as well, which is why they would never propose such a law; it would most likely be found unconstitutional.

So instead they want to make it ridiculously expensive. This is just one more way for government to tell you how to live your life. Not only that, but I see it as a money grab.

Everyone knows, thanks to reporters, that the state budget has been very tight over the last couple of years, which has caused a great amount of tension between the governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The way I see it, it appears that the state is trying to not only control more people’s lives, but it’s also attempting to fill its pockets while implementing more wonderful government programs (which is just what we all need, right?).

Maybe it’s just me, but I think the state making money off of citizens’ addictions is pretty sick. Most smokers I know don’t want to continue smoking and have tried to quit on a number of occasions. If you feel the same way I do, please let your representatives in the Iowa Legislature know that you think it’s wrong for the state to punish dependent behavior in this way.

Jonathan Bracewell

Sophomore

Political Science