Some have argued that she's balanced the budget on the backs of smokers.  And she's trying to push another smoke tax hike through this budget cycle.  Still, the Free Press demands that the state eliminate smoking in public places, thus decreasing the demand for cigarettes and taking a big bite out of the state coffers.

My mind immediately returns to the summer of 2006 and the FREEP's demand that gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos propose a replacement for the "lost revenue" that would result from an elimination of the hated Single Business Tax.

They were quite insistent.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to call on the Detroit Free Press to propose a replacement for the lost revenue resulting from an elimination of smoking in public places.  

And as DeVos' accurate assertion that much of the lost SBT revenue would be made up through the resulting economic growth was rejected as lacking specifics, so too must I reject the likely argument that the state might save on health-care costs should smoking decrease.  

It's time the Detroit Free Press put it's money where it's mouth is.  Residents who depend on essential state services have a right to know specifically how they would replace this lost revenue.