Christie (hack, spit).
Via Washington Examiner:
What little science exists on the safety of e-cigarettes shows that they are a safer alternative to regular cigarettes. But that hasn’t stopped some in government – including New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie – from proposing a tax on the cigarette alternative that would make them the same price as regular cancer sticks.
The move could hinder Christie’s presidential aspirations, as nanny-state tactics are hugely unpopular – especially among conservatives.
New Jersey already bans the use of e-cigarettes in public, but the continued attacks on the industry leave some questions.
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona extolled the virtues of e-cigarettes, noting the alternative’s “extraordinary potential” to move smokers away from regular cigarettes. Carmona also warned that regulations against e-cigarettes like the public-smoking ban could “significantly hinder” the alternative from being used as an anti-smoking aid.