Smoking ban will cut state revenue

To the Editor: It is obvious in these days of neo-conservative politics that the age-old question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” has been answered ...at least by the N.J. legislature. However, I have to wonder, now that they have taken their first steps to eliminate smoking, where exactly do they plan to recoup the revenue from cigarette sales? Strictly speaking, the cigarette tax is the only voluntary tax in this state. If one chooses to smoke, one chooses to pay that tax. If the gas tax is proposed as a substitute for that revenue, I would remind the legislature that gas is a necessity of everyday life. Consequently, to raise the tax would be a considerable hardship for the population. What are the other options? Raise the sales tax or income tax? According to the papers, areas of New Jersey near the New York border saw a rise of 18 percent to 20 percent in business at bars and restaurants after the N.Y. ban. It strikes me that the N.J. legislature should reconsider its position on this issue. Perhaps in the future we would be better served to elect accountants, who would work to solve the outstanding economic problems of this state and allow the populous to deal with its own issues, to the legislature instead of lawyers and morticians. Michele Danzis Highland Lakes