Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wash: Cigarette Tax Hike Takes Effect July 1
yahoonews.com ^ | 7-1-05

Posted on 07/01/2005 4:17:05 AM PDT by SheLion

Calling the State's Tobacco Quit Line Can Double the Chances of Quitting Successfully

OLYMPIA, Wash., June 30 -

Starting July 1, the tax on a pack of cigarettes in our state is going up 60 cents; that means the price of a carton of cigarettes will increase by $6. With the increase, a carton of a national brand will now be as high as $50 to $65; that's another powerful incentive to quit smoking.

The state Department of Health has a free service to help people kick the habit. The state Tobacco Quit Line   has helped thousands of people quit smoking with confidential services that include counseling, an individually-tailored quit plan, and quit-support kits. Research shows that calling the quit line can double the chances of quitting successfully.
"More than 50,000 Washington smokers have received help from the quit line," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "This Independence Day weekend, we encourage people to call the quit line and take a step towards independence from tobacco. It will be good for their health and their pocketbook.

Quitting tobacco lowers the risk of numerous health problems, including heart disease, stroke, emphysema and many kinds of cancer, such as lung, throat and cervical. The body begins a series of positive health changes as quickly as 20 minutes after a smoker quits, starting with a drop in heart rate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between two weeks to three months after quitting, heart attack risk drops and lung function begins to improve. Five years after quitting, the risk for stroke is significantly lowered; and after 10 years, the lung cancer death rate is half that of a smoker's.

The Washington Tobacco Quit Line is funded by the state Department of Health. It offers help from professional cessation specialists who provide private counseling, advice on designing an individual quit plan, skills to break tobacco habits, and information about products and medications that may aid the quit process.

The quit line is open from Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cessation support is also available in Spanish at 877-2 NO FUME (877-266-3863). The quit line will not be open on the Fourth of July, but residents can leave a message and their call will be returned by a cessation specialist.

People can also visit http://www.quitline.com. The Web site has a sample quit line call, true stories from people who have quit smoking, and details about what people can expect when they call the quit line for help.

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the nation. Tobacco-related diseases kill about 8,000 people every year in Washington -- more than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides and fires combined.
Visit the Washington Department of Health Web site at http://www.doh.wa.gov for a healthy dose of information.]'

'


TOPICS: Government; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: antismokers; augusta; bans; butts; camel; caribou; cigar; cigarettes; cigarettetax; commerce; fda; individual; interstate; kool; lewiston; liberty; mainesmokers; marlboro; msa; mtaxes; niconazis; pallmall; pipe; portland; prosmoker; quitsmoking; regulation; rico; rights; rinos; ryo; sales; senate; smokers; smoking; taxes; tobacco; winston
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last
Washington smokers are lucky!  Maine just doubled their cigarette taxes to $10 dollars a carton or $2.00 a pack to balance the state budget.  Instead of cutting spending, they stick it to the smokers AGAIN and claim it's for our own good.

If anyone believes this, I have a town in Canada I will sell you!

The Washington Tobacco Quit Line is funded by the state Department of Health

When the Tobacco Settlement was born, Maine Board Of Health created the Partnership to a Tobacco Free Maine.

Just like the Wash Quit Line is being funded by the state Department of Heath...........guess who is paying their cushy paychecks?  THE SMOKERS who pay taxes on cigarettes!!!!!!!!  Your money is going to pay for that personal abuse!!  Not Bg Tobacco and not the state government/  But the SMOKERS

1 posted on 07/01/2005 4:17:12 AM PDT by SheLion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Just another Joe; Madame Dufarge; MeeknMing; steve50; Cantiloper; metesky; kattracks; ...
Read what Wash smokers ALREADY pay into the state economy!!!!  Has anyone ask the lawmakers WHY they need more taxes from the smoker????

Oh yes, I foget..........it's for the KIDDIES! heh!

Washington Information

Washington State Smokers:
A public yahoo group for anyone who wants to talk about the Washington ban situation.

2 posted on 07/01/2005 4:19:27 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SheLion
With the increase, a carton of a national brand will now be as high as $50 to $65; that's another powerful incentive to quit smoking.

Or get them by other means.
3 posted on 07/01/2005 4:28:37 AM PDT by Lord Basil (Hate isn't a family value; it's a liberal one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Sorry, I didn't get the link in there!

Check out what Washington smokers already contribute to their state economy with the taxes on cigarettes:

Washington State

4 posted on 07/01/2005 4:31:12 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Lord Basil
Or get them by other means.

Believe me, they will.  Smokers are  not sheeple!  It's the American Way to shop cheap, and if the state lawmakers think that their state smokers will just bow down and pay this, they are living in another world.

I'd love nothing better then to see their cigarette tax revenue dwindle down to nothing.

Well, here is one alternative:

Can't stand the high taxes?

Afraid to order off of the Internet?

Then start rolling your own!!!

I roll out a beautiful carton for a little under $8 dollars.  Premiums in my state are now up to $45-$50 a carton.  Can you imagine the money I have saved over the past 4 years since I now roll my own?  It's mind boggling.

under $50.00

$5.75 a bag

$1.99 for 200 filtered tubes

 
and

Smokers United

Roll Your Own Tobacco Store

Roll Your Own Magazine



5 posted on 07/01/2005 4:36:45 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SheLion

Maybe I'm missing something but raising taxes on any item becomes cost prohibitive beyond a certain point. Consequently less people will buy that item ( in this case cigarettes). The result will be less taxes collected. It's a self defeating purpose.


6 posted on 07/01/2005 4:37:52 AM PDT by Man50D
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SheLion

If they spent half the time trying to keep queers out of each others butts as they do trying to get smokers to quit there wouldnt be any AIDS.


7 posted on 07/01/2005 4:44:46 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

once again, liberals think more taxes=less spending...but not the reverse.


8 posted on 07/01/2005 4:46:49 AM PDT by KneelBeforeZod ( I'm going to open Cobra Kai dojos all over this valley!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Man50D
Maybe I'm missing something but raising taxes on any item becomes cost prohibitive beyond a certain point. Consequently less people will buy that item ( in this case cigarettes). The result will be less taxes collected. It's a self defeating purpose.

Oh, you haven't missed anything, they just haven't hit that point yet with cigarettes. Smokers seem able to absorb a good amount of increases so the criminal class will continue raising these taxes.

9 posted on 07/01/2005 4:49:51 AM PDT by Dahoser (The UN makes Mos Eisley Spaceport look like a clean room.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Man50D
Maybe I'm missing something but raising taxes on any item becomes cost prohibitive beyond a certain point. Consequently less people will buy that item ( in this case cigarettes). The result will be less taxes collected. It's a self defeating purpose.

You aren't missing anything.  It's the LAWMAKERS that are missing everything.

They think that cigarette taxes will over flow their state coffers.  Well, guess what? This tax increase is just going to force smokers to go over the borders;  buy from the Internet or by rolling their own.

The lawmakers can't balance the budget with raising taxes on 25-30% of their state smokers, so what if all smokers went else where for cigarettes?  WHO would the lawmaker go after THEN to make up for the loss.

The talk out of both sides of their lying mouths!

 

10 posted on 07/01/2005 4:52:18 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SheLion

Cigarettes in Mexico are really, really cheap. (Especially in case lots.) Sounds like a golden opportunity for the black market and the illegal alien underground railroad. Thanks to this Progressive legislation new Kennedy families are being bankrolled even as we speak.


11 posted on 07/01/2005 5:56:04 AM PDT by NaughtiusMaximus (Don't blame me . . . voting for Pedro.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NaughtiusMaximus

Cigarettes in Mexico are really, really cheap. (Especially in case lots.) Sounds like a golden opportunity for the black market and the illegal alien underground railroad. Thanks to this Progressive legislation new Kennedy families are being bankrolled even as we speak.

Mexican cigarettes?  Are you talking Mexican cigarettes or the US cigarettes SOLD in Mexico?

I know that I am 10 minutes from the Canadian border, and what with our money exchange, I could buy cigarettes from Canada a lot cheaper.  BUT!  Canada cigarettes taste horrible.  I would never waste my money on them. :)


12 posted on 07/01/2005 6:27:26 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Man50D
Maybe I'm missing something but raising taxes on any item becomes cost prohibitive beyond a certain point. Consequently less people will buy that item ( in this case cigarettes). The result will be less taxes collected. It's a self defeating purpose.

It's simply history repeating itself:
In 1604, James I of England was the first government official to find taxes on tobacco to be enormously profitable. He increased taxes 4,000%. The funds dried up and he quickly lowered the taxes to get the income he desired.

Other interesting facts:

The Revolutionary War (1776) is financed by a loan from France (ACK!) engineered by Benjamin Franklin. The collateral? 5,000,000 pounds of Virginia tobacco.
The first United States federal tax on tobacco was instituted in 1862 to help pay for the Civil War. And in 1863, cigars were only to be sold in boxes (by law) that the IRS could attach Civil War excise tax stamps to (This was dropped in 1883). The cigarette tax began this year as well
In 1893, the state of Washington bans sale and use of cigarettes. The law is overturned on constitutional grounds as a restraint on free trade.
In 1898, Congress raises taxes on cigarettes 200% due to the Spanish-American War, but this is rolled back a year later.
In 1910, 13% of federal tax revenues are from cigarettes.
In 1930, 80% of federal tax revenues are from cigarettes.
In 1945, cigarettes are the unofficial currency in Germany ($0.50 each)

Tons more out there.
13 posted on 07/01/2005 6:45:36 AM PDT by RandallFlagg (Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SheLion

Mornin, lady!


14 posted on 07/01/2005 7:01:10 AM PDT by RandallFlagg (Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SheLion
With the increase, a carton of a national brand will now be as high as $50 to $65; that's another powerful incentive to quit smoking.

More like an incentive to buy out of state, online, or on the black market.

I firmly believe that the government is more addicted to tobacco money than smokers are to nicotine.

I honestly would like to see a grassroots effort among nicotine-nazi's in some state to get the sale and use of cigarettes banned in some state. And then watch them bitch when their taxes are jacked up big time to make up the difference.

15 posted on 07/01/2005 7:12:24 AM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SheLion
Ohio's cigarette tax went up $.70 cents today. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

SheLion, I've been reading the information you post about rolling your own -- I'm ready to give it a try.

16 posted on 07/01/2005 7:15:39 AM PDT by flutters (God Bless The USA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sgtbono2002
If they spent half the time trying to keep queers out of each others butts as they do trying to get smokers to quit there wouldnt be any AIDS.

Ain't THAT the truth! Can you see how stupid this war on the smokers is? As IF the lawmakers have nothing else to worry about. Heh!

17 posted on 07/01/2005 7:16:21 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: KneelBeforeZod
once again, liberals think more taxes=less spending...but not the reverse

Oh Zod! Just as many RINO's in office are doing the same thing. It's totally disgusting.

And you would think they would worry about stepping on their constituents toes, but they could care less!

18 posted on 07/01/2005 7:18:06 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RandallFlagg
Mornin, lady!

HEY there!

19 posted on 07/01/2005 7:19:16 AM PDT by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: flutters

Do it! I started last Christmas and haven't regretted it. I'm even growing my own (I just started, though).


20 posted on 07/01/2005 7:22:18 AM PDT by RandallFlagg (Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson