Most politicians think the riskiest move during an election year is to raise taxes.
But aside from cigarette smokers and tobacco shop owners, a random sampling of Lawrence residents show that most either approve of or are reconciled with tax increases to help cover the state's budget shortfall.
"It's almost inevitable at this point, so it's hard to get upset about it," said Jonathan Levine, owner of The Smoke Shop, 17 W. Ninth St.
Legislators convened the 2002 session Monday facing a projected $426 million gap in the budget for the 2003 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Gov. Bill Graves proposed a quarter-cent sales tax, 1-cent fuel tax and 65-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase to prevent cuts in education, social service and transportation spending.
Graves chose those particular tax increases because they were easy to understand and seemed the most acceptable, he said Tuesday during a taped interview with KPTS, the Wichita public television station.
Of the proposed cigarette tax increase, Graves said, "It's a stiff increase, but I think it's an increase that Kansans support."
But Doris Ziegler, owner of Tobacco Express stores at 2104-A W. 25th St. and 925 Iowa, said smokers shouldn't be singled out as a cure for the state's budget ills.
"Aren't we all responsible for that, not just the smokers?" she said. "Certainly they need to explore every avenue that's available to us. If we need the comfort, we need to pay for it, and that's across the board. I cannot see singling out single industries."
Opponents of higher cigarette taxes are just blowing smoke, said Lawrence bookkeeper Julie Murray.
"I say go for it," Murray said. "Raise taxes on cigarettes. It's going to keep kids from smoking."
Levine questioned whether the state actually could raise a significant amount of money with a cigarette tax increase.
"While it's an easy thing to add to the list, I don't know how terribly effective it could be," he said. "It's mostly used nowadays because politicians consider it safe."
He suggested an alcohol tax could raise more money.
"Alcohol seems to be largely hands-off," he said. "Many more people drink than smoke, but it would be less popular. Typically, in my experience, politicians put taxes on things people won't seem to care about."
Leah Koesten, a Kansas University student from Overland Park and barista at La Prima Tazza who takes an occasional smoke break at work, said she might have to change her habits.
"Maybe I won't be a smoker very much longer," she said.
She said she felt better about the proposed fuel tax increase.
"It's still better than it was a few months ago," she said of gasoline prices. "So long as it stays under $1.50 (a gallon), I'm fine. But if it goes higher, there's another reason I won't be smoking anymore."
Brant Watson, a KU junior from Eudora, said he wouldn't mind paying a little more for gasoline especially if it meant benefits for higher education.
"With gas prices low like they are now, it wouldn't be a big deal," he said. "If they go back like they were before Sept. 11, it would be. They're talking about raising tuition. I'd rather pay a dollar extra for gasoline than another $500 for my classes."
Mary Ellen Hall, co-owner of Jamaica Tan, 2311 Wakarusa Drive, said increased sales tax would be a fair approach to collect money across a wide section of the state's population. However, she said legislators also should take a careful look at their own expenditures, such as the parking garage being built in Topeka, as a way to cut costs.
"If we're in a pinch, then I understand," she said. "I would hate to see education suffer otherwise. I'll pay for the taxes, if I have to."
Hall said the increased tax on cigarettes sounded like a good idea.
"I'm not a smoker, so I say raise it because it doesn't apply to me," she said. "It's too bad, though. It's taxing only a portion of our society."
Frank R. Lewis, 78, Lawrence, said he was not convinced the tax increases were necessary and hoped the Legislature would take a close look at their effects.
"We can always stop driving and stop smoking," he said.
Staff writers Mike Belt, Joy Ludwig, Joel Mathis , Matt Merkel-Hess, Terry Rombeck and Scott Rothschild contributed to this report.
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