Readers react

e-mail this story More details Question: What is your opinion of the Governor's proposed increase in the cigarette tax and his proposal to add a 5% tax on lottery tickets?

"I don't have a problem with it. It gets more money into the system that doesn't have to come out of my pocket because I'm not a smoker. I don't think the price affects the way people smoke."

Chad Bishop, 26, salesman, Greenville:

"The lottery tickets I wouldn't agree with, but they can tax cigarettes all they want to. I think they should tax them more and more because it should be driven completely out."

Jan Dye, 42, a collections company employee, 42, Greenville

Jan is a smoker, and has been for 20 years. She said an increase in the tax on cigarettes will not deter her from smoking.

Jodi Gerberich, 29, a collections agency employee, Greenville:

"I don't agree with it. There's other things they can tax besides cigarettes. I smoke about a pack every two days.

"I don't buy lottery tickets, and I don't agree with it (the proposed added tax) because a lot of poor people buy lottery tickets."

Bianca Richardson, 21, a recovery specialist, Greenville:

"I think you should do the taxes because I don't smoke and I don't want my mother to smoke. Maybe if the price goes up she won't smoke. She's been smoking at least 25 years."