Breakfast at Tiffany's – Because I Do Not Know

Southern Political Roundup

Louisiana

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco wants to dramatically increase the cigarette tax in her state "for the children." Real reason No. 1: She can't get an alcohol or gambling tax through a state full of drunks and compulsive video poker players, and Louisiana has one of the worst business climates in the country. (Because of its corrupt patronage system, no one is willing to spend $10 million buying off all the politicians, labor unions and "community leaders" to establish a major industry there.)

So, instead, Blanco and Co. are hitting the poor and minorities who make up the smoking population:

A poll last month, paid for by the American Cancer Society, found that 65 percent of Louisiana's residents would support a 75-cent tobacco tax increase.

Retailer Fred Hoyt, a former state senator, told the committee the poll figure was no surprise since an estimated 74 percent of Louisiana residents do not smoke. But the tax, he said, will fall hard on those that do smoke. It represents an unfair burden on low-income households, Hoyt said, citing RJ Reynolds tobacco company figures that the median household income for smokers is $28,152, while nonsmokers' median household income is $35,833.

My favorite Blanco quote (and she is a nice person, but I've never considered her governor material -- which makes her perfect for Louisiana):

"They (teachers) need a raise. Louisiana needs fewer smokers," Blanco told the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, and the committee obliged by passing her proposal without objection.

Let me ask you a simple question, Madame Blanco, if you base teacher pay on a cigarette tax, what happens when half the smokers quit and the use-tax revenue plummets? What will fill that void in the budget? I doubt you have an answer outside of "even more taxes."

Florida

Attorney General "Chain Gang" Charlie Frist throws his hat into the ring to succeed Jeb Bush as governor and becomes the immediate front-runner.

Texas

In the Lone Star State, one of the masterminds behind Jesse Ventura's successful guerilla campaign for Minnesota governor is joining the Kinky Friedman campaign to hold the office that propelled George W. Bush to the White House. Current Texas Gov. Rick Perry seems to have quite a fight on his hands, especially if Kay Bailey Hutchinson challenges him in the primary.

And in a Houston enclave called Hedwig Village, people are campaigning for a dead woman.

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