North Star Politics

Gov. Tim Pawlenty got a huge break today when the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld the "Health Impact" cigarette feetax. The ruling means that the Legislature won't have to tinker with the state's budget, and that Gov. Pawlenty won't have to face the implications of repassing the "fee" as a "tax". This victory improves Pawlenty's chances of re-election, because he won't have to continue to publicly face the hypocrisy of having passed a misnamed tax after taking the infamous no-new-tax pledge.

The tobacco companies say they're considering appealing, but it seems unlikely that one might be successful.

Technorati Tags: health impact fee Tim Pawlenty MN-Gov