Targeting the Vile Weed

Got a couple of e-mails over the past few days about this proposal, apparently another Democrat scheme to buy the votes of one group by screwing another, smaller group:

Currently before the United States Senate is a proposal to fund health insurance on the backs of tobacco products to the tune of $35 billion (that's Billion with a B). Most egregious is the proposed tax rate on cigars of 53.1%, including a ludicrous 20,400% increase in the overall cap. This would make handmade cigars - a true mom-and-pop industry, a product enjoyed by "choice", an average 3 times per week - the single largest excise taxed item in the entire Internal Revenue Code....by a long shot.
This piece of legislation is called SCHIP (State Childrens Health Insurance Plan). Tonight this bill is being marked up in the Senate Finance Committee and is expected to come to the Senate floor for a vote as early as end of week.
We urge you to call both of your U.S. Senators today and express your opposition to funding "SCHIP legislation" with punitive cigar taxes. As a constituent your voice will be heard. Please see phone numbers below for your Senators.

Another e-mail pointed out how this will devastate the economies of places like the Dominican Republican, Nicaragua, and Honduras.

I suppose I'll give up cigars (the only vice Mrs. Young allows me) if this ridiculous tax passes. Aside from the absurdity of the price (my average cigar is now less than $5) with this ridiculous tax, government should get the Hell out of the business of socializing medicine. To the extent that I may refuse to fund it, I will.