Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 02/03/2006 12:57:31 AM PST by WKB
JACKSON - The Mississippi House, by an overwhelming 88-34 margin Thursday, voted to increase the tax on small cigarettes manufacturers by 43 cents per pack.
The tax, supporters said, would "even the playing field" between the small companies and the large cigarette manufacturers.
States sued the large tobacco companies in the 1990s in an attempt to recoup government money spent on the treatment of tobacco-related illnesses. In settling the suit, the tobacco companies agreed to pay billions of dollars back to the states.
House Ways and Means Chairman Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, said the small companies, many of which did not exist before the lawsuit, don't have the expense of the settlement costs and therefore have an unfair advantage over the large cigarette manufacturers.
The tax, which would generate about $15 million annually, would be spent on the state-owned nursing homes for military veterans and to establish a cancer research center at University Medical Center.
Several veterans watched the debate on the legislation in the House gallery. At times the debate became emotional as supporters of the legislation said the bill was needed to provide a steady stream of money for the chronically underfunded nursing homes
Opponents of the legislation said it was unfair to tie the tax to the nursing homes.
"This is an effort to put those in a box who might think differently" and be opposed to the tax, said Rep. Gale Gregory, R-Louisville.
Gregory and others argued that the nursing homes should be adequately funded out of the general fund.
The bill passed the House by more than the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto of Gov. Haley Barbour who said he opposes all tax increases.
Barbour already has vetoed legislation that would phase out the 7 percent food tax and increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 18 cents to $1. The vetoed bill is pending in the Mississippi Senate where Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, who proposed the legislation is trying to garner the votes for an override.
Hide your wallet ping.
ping
And people actually think there is a difference between Rats and Republicans..
I don't get it. Taxes on small cig companies? The brand x cigs?
House Ways and Means Chairman Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, said the small companies, many of which did not exist before the lawsuit, don't have the expense of the settlement costs and therefore have an unfair advantage over the large cigarette manufacturers
Just trying to be fair.
Sure. How much does anyone want to bet ANY of that money goes back to the public.
The tax, which would generate about $15 million annually, would be spent on the state-owned nursing homes for military veterans and to establish a cancer research center at University Medical Center.
Sure it will. That's what they always say. It's just an easy tax grab, and will continue until Cigarettes are $11.25 a pack like in Canada.
Oh yes, it's all about being fair...lol. Now I understand their thinking, but the fact remains they're just itching to impose a tax and this one is directly aimed at the POOR who smoke the off brand cigs. Might even be able to call this tax 'racial.'
ping
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
'racial.'
You can't use the R word on FR
LOL! Ooooooooops.
The poor in Canada don't quit. They just get unhealthier because they can't afford decent foods, and end up eating the cheapest processed fat they can in order to afford a pack of cigarettes. And crime goes up. You can make more money smuggling cigrettes across the border than you can selling pot.
Sad.
Thanks for the ping!!!
The only thing missing so far is cute little puppies.
The power to tax is the power to destroy.
Amy Tuck is no Republican - she got started as a Rat and "changed" to Republican to increase her chances of staying..
You mean these?
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