We, the tobacco workers of America as well as the Smokers of America ask you to reconsider lowering substantially the cigarette tax as it is creating a major hardship on the lives of many of people. There have been thousands of jobs lost due to the rise in cigarette taxes and many people who have been forced into bankruptsy due to loss of their jobs who are now forced  into being supported by the Governmental System and Healthcare System, paid for by our taxes.  Those that fall thru the cracks of the system and do not qualify as yet for the Services are left to fend for themselves or left to die if they are sick or elderly. Is this the way America treats our own merely because their are people who smoke? On the other side of the coin - as a recovering addict myself and not having much money right after I got clean some 9yrs. ago, had I not been able to have cigarettes to fall back on as my "crutch" after several decades of struggeling with addiction....I most likely would NOT have been able to turn away from the drugs. Dont make cigarettes so expensive that people can't even afford the Generic cigarettes. Rehabs are too expensive and he ousing convicts are a miltibillion expense on the Government and cost insurance companies billions of dollars every year in break-ins, burgleries, etc.,  That cigarette could be the difference between that next hit. Lower the taxes.! Give the addict a chance, and put more jobs back into our hands. Say NO to raising cigarette taxes and YES to LOWERING CIGERETTE TAXES>