A Breath of Fresh Air

It looks like the statewide smoking ban and a three-year-old cigarette tax are rousing successes. Gov. Bill Ritter announced last month that the number of Coloradans who smoke dropped from 22 percent in 2001 to 18 percent in 2006. Look no further than two voter-approved measures for reason why Colorado is now up to ninth in the country for reducing smoking. In 2004, voters upped the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 20 cents to 80 cents, and since July 2006, most Colorado restaurants and bars have been smoke free.

What’s Next: Cancer rates will drop, and the Independence Institute will be looking for nother anti-tax argument.