Posted on 06/09/2007 1:07:34 PM PDT by repinwi
A tax increase on smokers is moving a step closer to reality.
The Legislature's budget-writing committee agrees to increase the tax from $.77 per pack to $2.02. The hike would start September first.
If approved, the increase would make Wisconsin's tax the fourth highest in the country behind New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfrv.com ...
ping
I wish that there were a tax on writing stupid laws...
Taxes will continue to go up, UNTIL, the point that it actually affects smoking.
Our “Republican” governor just did the same thing. I’m quitting, but this is unrelated to the tax increase. I’m also quitting voting for anti-smoking zealots. So I guess he can get re-elected without my vote.
Happy now?
I still say these bills for cigarette tax hikes are (secretly) sponcered by the Mafia. B/c ultimately who stands to make money off this? Not the state. Can we say: “Bootleg”?
It doesn't make sense.....ban smoking in public places but raise the tax on those of us who smoke. He should either do one or another if he wants to make money.
The black market that will develop almost instantly will baffle these left-wingers. They’ll talk about it endlessly, claiming not to understand why the sudden increase in smuggling and related crimes and screaming that the state budget can’t stand the decrease in revenues, revenues lower than before the tax was imposed. Morons all.
You know, I hate to talk about the rope in the home of a hanged man, but don’t take it in that sense, please.
The governor of Nebraska, the Republican David Heinemann, just signed the largest tax-cut in the history of Nebraska, some $425 million.
Now, $425 million might seem chump change, but remember, we’re much smaller than Wisconsin.
This was the first session of the Nebraska legislature operating under term limits. Of the 49 state senators this year (Nebraska has only one house), 22 of the 49 were brand-new, and 20 of those 22 had NO prior legislative experience at all, even on a local school board or something.
There were dire predictions that with so many state senators new to the job, they would become “putty” in the hands of the lobbyists.
Instead, they appear to have eviscerated the lobbyists, discarding state spending that doesn’t work, or benefits only a few special interests.
Term limits.
They work.
Boot leg exactly, one can get smokes off the internet, for around 15.00 a carton.. just do a google search on duty free tax free ones.. and u will find them delivered to your door....a two fer,, save gas and save money.
So irresponsible. Ignoring the legitimate social needs of the state to satisfy the short-term, greedy desires of the voter.
I just posted 2 other articles regarding tax increases in Wisconsin. Besides cigarettes, the tax on beds in nursing homes will go up and a tax on hospital revenue will rise. This all in a day’s work. They are also looking into hospitals paying property tax because they are showing a profit.
Here in CA, with the decrease in cigerette tax revenue(s), there has been a steady INCREASE in misc fees(taxes), surcharges(taxes), and hidden service price increases (taxes).
Note that, in another thread, your WI nursing home bed fees went up?
The pols won't let revenue loss go un-balanced with new-found 'needs' (taxes) elsewhere...
Democrat, socialist, stalinist sanctimonius tax gobblers at work stealing $$ from legal Wi. cheeseheads. When smoking declines and the tax revenues associated with it decline too will the democrat legislatures adjust to lower revenues?
NOT....they are addicted to revenue from taxes and will tap the shortfall via more taxes taken from elsewhere. Insidious leeches and stupid sheeple (alive and dead) keep electing these fools.
I wish there were a tax on dumb a$$ democraps.
Panel OKs tax hikes on hospitals and cigarettes…To help pay Medicaid, health costs.
"Doyle is counting on the money generated from the cigarette tax, the 0.8 percent tax on hospital revenues and a $175 million transfer from the patients' compensation fund to pay for Medicaid and other health care expenses."
"The committee also approved Doyle's proposals to offer health insurance to all children in the state, regardless of family income, and an expansion of the BadgerCare health care program.
We are going to pay and pay and pay.
Then what will they do without those billions of dollars of revenue rolling in? I have a hunch. Non-smokers will find their taxes raised to make up the loss and that includes the anti-smoking-nazis.
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