Sen. Paul Gazelka voted to support tobacco companies and to increase smoking in Minnesota.
Smoking causes cancer, emphysema, pain and death. High tobacco taxes bring about lower rates of smoking. The tobacco companies have complained for years that it's difficult to sell tobacco in Minnesota because of our high tobacco taxes. Tobacco taxes should be high. Before this year Minnesota legislators knew that our high tobacco taxes were saving lives. Because of that they supported high taxes on toxic tobacco. This year was different, however. Tobacco companies poured almost a half a million dollars of lobbying money into Minnesota. That caused the Minnesota Senate and House to give them what they wanted-lower taxes and a chance to sell more disease causing tobacco. Senator Gazelka voted for lower tobacco taxes and higher rates of smoking and sickness in Minnesota. Gazelka's vote was a vote against Minnesota families and for tobacco companies.
Tim King
Long Prairie
