The vast majority of states have "selective" cigarette taxes, including Texas, which is firmly in the Republicans' deathgrip (I always have to bring up Texas). I'm not sure how you can credibly focus on this one proposal and imply that Democrats are for "selective" cigarette taxes whereas Republicans aren't. EVERYONE sees cigarette taxes as a whipping boy because it is guaranteed income (addiction) and popular with a majority of their constituents.
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<br>Even this article admits that this particular proposal has cross party support. If the funding was tied to something other than extending emergency medical care (which the non-evil, benevolent Republicans oppose), it wouldn't even be an issue.