holy crap! this is getting even more out of hand than even I thought it could!
I wonder if higher cigarette taxes have ever brought in more revenue than lower ones do? I suspect not, because I haven't seen that story in mainstream media.
Or maybe they count the fines for smugglers as the increased revenue?
I've always wanted to be a drug smuggler - now's my chance! Thank you Michiganders/Michiganians, you've made my fortune. "Filtered or straight, tax-free is great."
The States of KY, NC, and VA thank these numbnuts for boosting their economies at Michigan's expense.
Today is day 100 for me since I stopped smoking. I live in Illinois and the last carton I bought cost $32.00 and I was smoking 2 cartons a week. the price isn't even why I quit but is a definate plus.
I will never preach to anyone about smoking, having done it myself for 45 years.
No one in my house smokes now but any of my smoking friends are welcome to light up in my home.
The taxes on tobacco are outrageous everywhere in the U.S.
Just read a thread recently where cigs cost about 7 cents a pack in Cuba.
Hogwash!
Johnson can't run for re-election because of term limits.
Good.
...the cigarette tax increase ...proposed by Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm as a way to help eliminate the projected $1.3 billion shortfall in the state budget...
At last, the truth.
Good logic for a an absent minded over paid twit (thanks be to the trough givers)
Parental guidance and family support would never ever be a concern of an elitist when it comes to finances.
He!! no, for the primary concern to an elitist is control, NOT what is best for the children.
"But Democrats have their own objections to the tax increase, saying it would unfairly affect low-income adults who might not be able to quit smoking or afford smoking cessation aids."
Wow!!! What a shock to hear a true intellectual point raised by a Dem. The fact that this is one of the few realities of such a tax hike being heralded by a Dem doesn't eliminate the fact that they could very well be stating such a postion to support their claim of looking out for the little guy.
Now if they could understand that these taxes have become a necessity, ie. smokers needed to fill state coffers, then intellectual honesty may finally befall some Dems.
Next project: Minimum wage and how it always (1) eliminates jobs and (2) causes resentment when one has worked up to a certain hourly wage just to see some yahoo off the street get the same rate.
ping
I guess with gas so high they couldn't tax that .. so their next favorite is cigarettes
FMCDH
OK - I think I've got it.......
Increase cigarette taxes so people will stop smoking cigarettes, then scream that people are not buying cigarettes. And when they stop buying cigarettes and stupid socialist programs can't be funded turn around and increase the cigarette taxes once again.
Oh, how I love the circular logic of these dimbulbs.
How about the billions the state is already collecting from the Tobacco Settlement? To which the smokers, who are paying taxes on cigarettes are paying 100%? Why do they need MORE tax money from the smokers?
Here is what Michigan smokers are already paying into the state coffers:
Michigan Smokers
MICHIGAN'S SMOKERS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE ECONOMY - 2002
Damn RINO'S!
Thanks for the information, comment.
Come on people. Do you still think your greedy so-called reps are really representing you? If you do, you are sheeple.
In fact, in anticipation of that method tightening up, I'll wager that some people buy from off-shore sources.
Of course, this would be unscrupulous, but there are some who do it, of course and don't declare their purchases. So, for them, tax "increases" just reduce the taxes they pay--and Michigan collects--to zero! Can you imagine someone doing that?
from the New York Post 5/15/04
One-third blow off city cig tax
by David Seifman
A third of smo
kers here aren't paying the $ 1.50-a-pack cigareete tax-leading the city health commissioner to warn that smuggled smokes are "the single biggest threat" to the city's tough anti-smoking law.
"There has been a substantial increase in the purchase and consumption of nontaxed and smuggled cigarettes in New York City and other high taxed jurisdictions," Thomas Frieden told a Crain's New York breakfast forum.
"This is probably the single biggest threat in progress to tobacco control in New York City."
Cigareete sales in the five boroughs collapsed after the city increased its portion of the tax from 8c to $ 1.50 a pack on July 2, 2002.
In the next 12 months 182 million packs were sold-compared to 342 million in the previous 12 month period.
Sandra Mullin, a Health Department spokeswoman, said two-thirds of smokers who responded to a recent survey said they are buying their cigarettes legally.
"Others are purchasing cigarettes from sources such as Indian reservations, through the internet, from outside the U.S., from other states, through the mail," she said.
A pack of camels was selling for $ 6.75 yesterday at the smoke shop across from City Hall.
But on the internet, the upstate Seneca Indians were peddling a carton of 10 packs for $ 30.75 less than half the regular retail price.
Frieden called on the federal and state governments to enforce the law on Indian reservation sales. By law, city residents can purchase only two cartons of untaxed cigarettes at a time for personal use.
"The state does have the implementation authority," declared Frieden. "They went to the Supreme Court to get it and they're not using it."
end of article
a Site from which there is a link to the Native American's site (scroll down at the site):
http://www.adrenalineflow.com/pages/3/index.htm