Down In Smoke

It was a close vote, but after the recount, Prop 29, which would have added an additional dollar-a-pack tax to cigarettes, has failed. Here's the kind of thing supporters are saying:

We are sorely disappointed that, yet again, Big Tobacco placed its profits ahead of the health of California and the nation.

Hey, this was a defensive action.  Tobacco companies won't be making any more, but did their opponents expect them to want to make less? It was the anti-tobacco forces, unhappy with making billions for doing nothing, who wanted to increase their revenues.

In fact, I'd guess that's what put the No side over the top.  Sure, the big anti-29 campaign was essential, but it wasn't enough by itself.  Tobacco companies are quite unpopular, but I think there was a feeling that smokers, who've got it rough as it is, are punished enough with the already high taxes they pay.