Big boost in tobacco tax

The fast-growing group of big names endorsing a big increase in the state tax on online cigarettes sale tobacco products can add the founder of the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Jon Huntsman Sr., the philanthropist and businessman who has donated more than $350 million of his wealth to underwrite research, treatment and prevention of cancers, said Friday the tax is another tool in the fight against what he called "this horrifying disease."
Speaking in the top-floor auditorium of the newest addition to the cancer research center that bears his name and employs 1,600 researchers and staff, Huntsman said institute research has helped make some remarkable advances in the nature and course of cancers.
With each revelation comes more evidence that tobacco use, particularly smoking, is a leading environmental cause of several cancers.
"It's not just lung cancer," Huntsman said, noting that his own father's death was no doubt hastened by smoking. "There are multiple hazards serious enough that you have at best a 50-50 chance of not only getting sick but dying from smoking-related complications."
Huntsman, who has had pancreatic cancer, said life in general is pretty risky and no one gets through it without some kind serious health problem.

Obama And Cigarettes

In tonight's Web-only Inauguration wrap-up, Katie Couric mentioned a question she asked President Barack Obama in an interview shown in tonight's prime-time special, "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama." It was about a subject that’s still a little touchy to him: cigarettes smoking.
COURIC: You don't really think of this job as working at home, do you, necessarily (laughter). But speaking of stress, what's going on with the discount cigarettes smoking thing?
PRES. OBAMA: You know, we're doing fine with it. I know everybody likes to poke, you know. I haven't had an interview yet where this one doesn't get raised.
COURIC: Well, I think people just wanna know how it's going. And I think – they feel for you.
PRES. OBAMA: Yeah, we're doing fine. I'll do better if people don't keep on bringing it up
So Couric asked Politico.com's Mike Allen if he could read anything between the lines of Mr. Obama's answer, such as, that he still is wrestling with the habit.
Allen concurred that it's possible, but suggested that perhaps we might all go a bit easier on the new president. After all, he spent an altogether frantic day looking completely cool, poised and collected.
"If you look at the way President Obama has handled himself and the way he's been portrayed, I'm happy he has a few faults, weaknesses," Allen laughed. "That shirtless photo op sure gives guys a lot to worry about. I'm happy he has a few hidden habits like that."
Plus, Couric said: "You also do have to appreciate that the guy's under a lot of pressure."
Allen added a zinger: "If he wants to get in his Audi* and have a cigarette, he ought to be able to."