Blowing Smoke At SCHIP

IBD Editorials ^ | January 15, 2009

[Kaslin]

Entitlements: Democrats count on a deadly and declining revenue source to rob from the poor and give to the well-off. It kills private insurance and is income redistribution turned on its head.

---

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed 289-139 a bill to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, something President Bush vetoed twice because it expands the program to those who arguably don't need it while increasing the dependence of millions on government.

The bill would provide $32.3 billion over 4 1/2 years to add 4 million children to the 7 million already covered in the program. It pays for the expansion with a 6% tax on cigarettes. A government which insists that smoking imposes enormous health care costs on society intends to use it as a revenue source for health care. Huh?

Smoking has been on the decline for decades, thanks in part to a massive government effort to discourage it and punish the tobacco industry for promoting it. Ever-higher tobacco taxes were intended to accelerate this process. That tax is in addition to state and local tobacco taxes, which are often hefty. These taxes are as high as $3.66 per pack in Chicago and $4.25 per pack in New York City.

As Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., ranking member on Ways and Means, reminds us, President-elect Obama promised that no one making less than $250,000 per year would see their taxes go up. This legislation breaks that promise. Obama has proposed "tax cuts" in the form of rebate checks to the working poor, then raises their taxes to pay for health care.

[Kaslin]

Never believe a liberal that makes promises

[Tarpon]

30 year old children, that’s a problem on it’s own.

[GeronL]

does it actually define children as 30 years old?

[GeronL]

does it actually define children as 30 years old?

[Kaslin]

It’s a huge problem

[FlingWingFlyer]

Once the Jackasses figure out that they aren’t going to make what they need for their warm fuzzy programs by stealing money from smokers, they’ll have to switch the taxes over to fast food or something along those lines. The ‘RATS are hateful people. They want programs, they just don’t want to pay for them themselves.

[Drango]

This is a boondoggle of the worst kind. Socialism at work.

Still any tax on cigarettes is a good tax. Plus it gets smokers panties in a twist.

[2banana]

The black market in cigarettes will be worse than alcohol during prohibition...

[lewislynn]

Still any tax on cigarettes is a good tax.

That is just plain ignorance. There are no good taxes on anything.

What's next, a tax on white bread, sugar, meat, leather, square footage, too much money is good?

I'm not a smoker so don't even go there.

[atomic_dog]

The black market in cigarettes will be worse than alcohol during prohibition

Bet it gives a jump start to the Grow your own (which is completely legal BTW) folks. Now that I think about wasn't there a whole group here on FR that growing and curing tobacco?

[mysterio]

Still any tax on cigarettes is a good tax. Plus it gets smokers panties in a twist.

I'm glad I quit. Smoking was one of the dumbest things I've ever done.

That aside, I still dislike anti-tobacco zealots. I think most of you should be involuntarily committed and treated for your psychiatric illness.

[Drango]

“There are no good taxes on anything.”

Negative externalities can be addressed by a tax. I’ll admit that taxes can be abused, but a cigarette tax is a good tax.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality

[Salvation]

No on SCHIP!

U. S. Senate

U. S. House of Representatives

[kristinn]

With your comments on this thread, I think it’s time you change your tagline or at least admit your liberalness.

[Drango]

No true conservative supports smoking.

[GOP_Lady]

I agree.

[GOP_Lady]

No true conservative supports taxing anything or anyone.

[kristinn]

I thought this discussion was about raising taxes, which true conservatives abhor.

[GOP_Lady]

I did as well.

[Drango]

I dislike taxes. I dislike cigarettes more.