Economist talks state politicians and big tobacco

With all the talk about pulling e-cigarettes off the market, you’d think that no one is smoking regular old cigarettes any more.

But Former State Economist Tom Kruckemeyer thinks your elected officials are fueling the problem by being in the pocket of ‘Big Tobacco’.

“Virtually every politician in the state who has any consequence accepts campaign donations from the tobacco industry.”

Kruckemeyer adds that Missouri still sees way too many smoking related illness deaths every year.

Missouri’s 17-cent per pack tax is the lowest in the nation.