Byline: Tom Risen

Sep. 12--Unlike most luxuries, a good cigar is affordable to almost anyone. However, a proposal before Congress that may slap a nationwide tax on cigars to as much as $3 a stogie could cause many small tobacco shops to go up in smoke. With California already taxing tobacco products at 46 percent, Matthew Lanford, owner of Santa Barbara Cigar & Tobacco Store, is worried his business might burn out.

"If that tax passes I would probably slowly go out of business," said Lanford, who has been in business for 12 years on Figueroa Street in downtown Santa Barbara.

"This tax would affect all cigars sales, whether you're me [in a tobacco store] or a ...

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