Tobacco Tax Use

Re: “1st Tobacco Taxes Allocated,” Feb. 17: The last I heard, the defense of taxing cigarettes was that the money would be used to fund government health care for tobacco-related illnesses.

But now I learn that the local Children and Families Commission will spend $4 million of tobacco taxes (easy come, easy go) this year to provide poor families with day care, health services and child abuse prevention. How sweet! I’m sure the commission feels all warm and fuzzy. I suppose smokers should be grateful that their tax dollars are benefiting anything remotely having to do with either health or care.

JEFF DEUTSCH

Huntington Beach