Dear Editor,
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It’s no surprise Congress can be misguided at times – take the ongoing debate to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by increasing federal tobacco taxes about 150 percent.
Representatives Akin, Blunt, Graves and Hulshof voted against the measure, which reflects the attitudes of a majority of Missourians when it comes to increased tobacco taxes. An amendment to raise state taxes on tobacco products failed in 107 of 114 counties last November.
Missouri Farm Bureau policy opposes tax increases targeting agricultural products including tobacco. The crop provides significant income for some Missouri farm families. Almost 3.5 million pounds were harvested in the Show Me State in 2006.
The expansion of SCHIP entails many issues; however hiking tobacco taxes to fund programs requiring mandatory annual outlays is short-sighted. A legitimate long-term funding solution should be considered instead of stop-gap political fix.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Kruse, President – Mo. Farm Bureau