Lighting Up NJ Cigarette Smokers

Corzine is looking to balance the budget through better taxation. Namely raising the price for a pack of cigarettes to $3 per pack.

That would be the highest in the nation.

The current tax of $2.40 per pack is topped only by Rhode Island's $2.46, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. The tax is expected to generate more than $600 million for New Jersey during the current budget year, which ends June 30.

New Jersey's cigarette tax has been increased three times since 2002. Before that it stood at 70 cents per pack.

Anthony Coley, Corzine's spokesman, declined to comment on the prospect of a cigarette tax hike but said, "Our spending cuts will be more significant than any revenue-raisers."

"The cuts will be deep, painful and significant. They will hurt," Coley added. He confirmed that municipalities, who received $1.8 billion this year, will not receive a projected $82 million increase and could face some small cuts, which he would not specify.

One way to solve the state's fiscal crisis is to simply eliminate the property tax rebate program and the increase to that program. That would save nearly $2 billion. But that's not going to happen because Corzine would much rather raise taxes than cut programs, especially ones he touted in campaign promises.