SOUND OFF: WHAT YOU SAID

Last week's question:

Should cigars and smokeless tobacco be taxed? Why or why not?

YES: "Such tax exemptions are prime examples of a special interest buying the votes of incumbent legislators. Only a moron or a congressman could rationalize the taxation of one sort of tobacco product and not another."

-Roland Henry, Cumberland County

YES: "Absolutely yes; there is no valid reason to not tax tobacco in any form."

-John Klinedinst, York County

YES: "If cigarettes are taxed, then any other tobacco product should be taxed as well. Some lawmakers must really like their chew!"

-Ken Mark, Cumberland County

YES: "Do they cause cancer? Do they increase health care costs?"

-Anne Quist, Cumberland County

YES: "I'm dumbfounded there is even a question on this issue! Absolutely!"

-Arty Beahm, Cumberland County

NO: "I am a nonsmoker and feel that they are taxing cigarettes to death! They tax things that are bad for you: cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol. Why not go after the fast food that is (bad) for everyone - thatwould bring in plenty of revenue."

-Jackie Dubs, York County

NO: "... A cigar smoker treats smoking as celebratory, fraternity or social networking.

Also, we only have three stores in Lancaster County that sell a wide variety of cigars. The product - thus revenue from a tax - is not available everywhere.

I can't find projections of revenue from a tax. This is not a significant revenue stream and we have two of the largest mail-order cigar companies: Cigar International & Famous Cigar shop in Pennsylvania. That said, they will leave (taking their jobs, income and real estate taxes out of state if a tax happens).

Simply put: The politics is that this is a palatable tax to voters with the acceptance of the nonsmoking ban in restaurants/ bars."

-Mark A. Vergenes, Lancaster County