Posted on 08/08/2006 5:32:31 AM PDT by SheLion
Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation on Aug. 3 to help crack down on illegal sales of tobacco to children by banning the shipment of cigarettes and other tobacco products through the U.S. mail.
Specifically, the bill would add cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to the U.S. Postal Service's list of restricted, non-mailable products. A first violation of mailing such a product would be liable for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 or 10 times the estimated retail value of the tobacco products, including all federal, state, and local taxes, whichever is highest. Civil penalties of up to $100,000 would be imposed for each subsequent violation.
The Senate went into recess on August 4.
This is not the first action taken against Internet sellers of cigarettes.
In January Philip Morris USA reached an agreement with a coalition of 37 Attorneys General aimed at combating the sale of the company’s cigarettes over the Internet and through the mails. In addition, in March 2005, the Attorneys Generals also announced that the major credit card companies had all agreed to stop processing credit card payments for the Internet retailers. And, later in the year, both DHL and UPS agreed to stop shipping packages for the vendors engaged in these illegal sales.
The USPS has continued to ship cigarettes because under postal law packages are sealed against inspection unless there is probable cause, according to USPS spokesman Gerry McKiernan
In September 2005, the agency adopted a formal policy recognizing that it cannot knowingly permit mail to be used to further activities deemed unlawful by state and federal authorities. As a result, the agency currently makes it illegal to mail alcoholic beverages and guns.
However, the USPS policy authorizes postal employees to accept packages suspected of containing untaxed or under-taxed cigarettes because, there could be souvenirs in the package. However, “its pretty obvious if it’s a gun, don’t you think,” asked Mr. McKiernan.
If enacted, McKiernan, “we will comply, but we hope guidance will be offered on how we can effectively enforce this legislation.”
Sen. Collins said Internet sales of tobacco are growing, but effective safeguards against illegal sales to young people are virtually non- existent on the more than 400 websites selling tobacco, making it easier and cheaper for kids to buy cigarettes.
She added that the delivery of cigarettes and other tobacco products through the mail creates opportunities for tax evasion.
Collins said that 20 percent of cigarette-selling Websites do not say anything about sales to minors being prohibited and more than half require only that the buyer say they are of legal age. Another 15 percent require that the buyer type in their date of birth and only 7 percent require any drivers license information.
Collins said Internet "stings" conducted by Attorneys General in at least 15 states found that children as young as 9-years-old are able to purchase cigarettes easily. Moreover, since Internet cigarette vendors typically require a two-carton minimum purchase, many high school and middle school buyers of Internet tobacco also end up serving as suppliers of cigarettes to other kids.
In March, Senator Charles E. Schumer, D-NY, and New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced that they had teamed up to support legislation to stop the shipment of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco through the U.S. Mail.
Schumer said his bill would prohibit mailing cigarettes through the USPS, impose fines of at least $1,000 per offense and jail time for repeat offenders, and give state Attorneys General the ability to pursue those who ship tobacco in violation of the law.
The bill has not yet been introduced.
You'd better believe it's about taxes, taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Government needs more money? JUST LET THEM SPEND LESS!!
It's really all about the tax money.
S.3816
Title: A bill to prohibit the shipment of tobacco products in the mail, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] (introduced 8/3/2006) Cosponsors (None)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d109:46:./temp/~bdnkIg::
see also:
S.3810
Title: A bill to prevent tobacco smuggling, to ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes, and for other purposes.
Well, there's an easy fix to that! In my state (and many others), we are required to report all of our out-of-state purchases on our state income tax form, and to pay the state sales tax on them.
Now tell us the truth, Susie Dear, is it about the Chillen or about the $$$$$
You phony, RINO, political-hack, B*tch
They are ALL alike. They pretend that they want to tax smokers to death (pun intended) while advocating that this will reduce consumption and raise revenue for "Anti-Smoking" programs aimed at reducing smoking among children.
Yet, it is a fact, that ALMOST ALL of the revenues these money-grubbing, phony, nanny-state, liberal, tax and spend, doo-doo gooders, received from the MULTI BILLION settlement (as well as current revenues) simply go to augment the general revenues.
Give me a break, already!!!
Either make it Illegal, or ease off, otherwise, I predict a resurgence of the same type of activity which was prevalent in the era of prohibition, which by the way, led to a massive increase in criminal gangs and criminal pursuits, as well as "criminalize" millions of users of a "legal" product, simply for choosing to purchase this product from other sources which does not impose (or require the payments of) confiscatory taxes.
What is obvious (from someone who studied business in college as opposed to the history of the tsi tsi fly or basket weaving as it appears is the case from most of the liberal arts crowd who matriculate into politics) these morons know nothing about Economics in general and specifically, the "Law of Diminishing Returns."
If "they" (as they so disingenuously advocate) continue to increase the taxes in order to decrease the number of smokers, sooner or later, the population which they are targeting in order to raise said revenues, will diminish to the point whereby the amount of revenues, will also decrease, unless the amount of taxes continues to increase, proportionately, with the numbers of smokers who are left.
However, for those of you who are not smokers and could care less, sooner or later, if this does occur, ALL of the revenues which are now being collected from smokers--and which simply go into the general revenues to pay for all of the "programs" which these morons implement) will have to be made up by someone. And guess who that "someone" will be?
Yep! And the following map is outdated, because many more Mosque's have moved in across the United States since this map was published.
But, like you said "this twit is worried about cigarettes." What a dumb arze she is.
Sometimes, very early in the morning, even the best comedy has no effect.
I believe that this article ties in nicely with this other one:
Yes! ALL about the money! The kids up here are more worried about getting meth and prescription drugs. We have a HUGE problem with kids and meth up here, and yet she is worried about CIGARETTES???? Something doesn't pass the smell test.
Don't play dumb. (You're probably not playing)
Sorry. Type O. My mistake. You are right. $20 Maine taxes on one carton of cigarettes. Thanks for catching that for me.
Not when UPS and other carriers are threatened by overzealous state attorney generals with lawsuits and, "Volunteer," to stop shipping tobacco products.
I guess you would be for Maine wanting to collect taxes from ALL things bought from the Internet and ALL things ordered from catalogs as well??!!
8 Ft. High x 9 Ft. Wide x 9 Ft. Deep Pop Up Greenhouse
Model FHFH700
Price: $325.00/ea Price includes shipping!
I figure I can get about thirty plants in one of these for next year.
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.
