Edward Ashworth and Andrew Muhl argue in favor of increasing the state's cigarette tax, and the authors claim that this tax hike would be overwhelmingly popular, but Gov. Jindal opposes it for reasons of political expediency.

A report by the Louisiana Budget Project on the state’s budget deficit, and a subsequent rebuttal by Professor Jeffrey Sadow, illuminates the fundamental differences between progressive and conservative economic philosophies. Edward Ashworth of the LBP blames middle-upper class tax breaks for a giant drop in state revenues, which in turn has forced a drop in...