Posted on 10/07/2011 8:34:01 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A Maryland health advocate who fought successfully this year for an increase in the states alcohol sales tax is pushing for a tax increase on cigarettes.
Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens Health Initiative, says the group will start a campaign next week asking the General Assembly to increase the states $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes to $3 and raise taxes on other tobacco products, including cigars and smokeless tobacco.
Mr. DeMarco a health lobbyist who has long championed so-called sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol hopes to build on momentum from this years assembly, in which legislators voted to increase the states alcohol sales tax from 6 percent to 9 percent after several years of lobbying.
Its a great public-health measure. Our goal would be that all smokers would stop smoking, he said Thursday, adding that more than 100 community groups already have backed the tobacco-tax proposal. Many smokers appreciate increases in the tobacco tax to help them quit.
Maryland taxed smokers just 36 cents a pack on cigarettes before 1999, when the rate was increased to 66 cents. A second increase moved the rate to $1 in 2002, and state lawmakers again raised the tax, to $2 a pack, during their 2007 special session.
The states $2 rate on cigarettes is tied for 11th highest in the country, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. The District tax is $2.50 a pack, while Pennsylvania and Delaware charge $1.60 and Virginia charges 30 cents the second-lowest rate in the country behind Missouris 17 cents.
New York has the highest tax rate on cigarettes at $4.35 a pack.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
All you have to do to avoid the taxes is roll your own.
You just became aware of that? The tax went up on July 1.
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