Don’t tax a select group of people

By Donald Armitage, Henderson

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 | 2 a.m.

This is for all lawmakers and supposed representatives of the people:

How do you justify taxing a minority group of people?

I’m talking about increasing the cigarette tax. This tax is completely unfair. Smokers may not be your favorite people, but what gives you the right to single out smokers for extra taxation?

If state government cannot operate on existing income, then you need to account more diligently where tax money is going, just as each of us has to do when there’s not enough money in our households. You should not be able to just tax the people more.

Your job is to make government function and monitor spending, making sure there is minimum waste and departments are run efficiently.

One suggestion: Take a look at casino taxation.

I spent 20 years working for a local government and know quite well how department budgets are always inflated. Your job is to see through the smokescreen and hold them accountable.

I read that Assemblyman Pat Hickey suggested a reduced tax but Assembly Taxation Chairman Derek Armstrong scuttled that. Who is he to decide?

If there is a need for more taxes, then make laws that require all taxpayers to bear that burden, not just a select few.