Posted on 02/01/2009 12:59:50 PM PST by Libloather
Senate Passes SCHIP Bill with Federal Tobacco Tax Increase
January 30, 2009
The U.S. Senate voted 66-32 this week to approve a major expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), funded with a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tobacco tax, Reuters reported Jan. 30.
The $32.8-billion SCHIP bill would expand eligibility for the health-insurance program to an additional 11 million children; about 7.4 million kids are covered by SCHIP now. The measure was passed twice last year, but vetoed both times by President George Bush.
A similar measure has already passed the House of Representatives, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a final vote could come next week after differences between the two bills are ironed out.
Some critics objected to the bill because it would allow states to enroll moderate-income families and does not include a ban on legal immigrants from getting coverage unless they have been in the U.S. for at least five years.
No Indian reserves near you? I go to Six Nations, about two hours west of Toronto, and pay $15 (Canadian) for a carton. They're even cheaper on Indian land in the States.
Worry abour yourself. No one needs you to alter their behavior, troll. Freedom is about people being able to do as they wish with little government intrusion. I guess gay sex could be considered a reason to tax gay folks more for dangerous aids evoking behavior. Are ya for that too?
Bigtime. Several benefits. It will help mitigate the enormous cost cigarettes have on society. (Negative externalities)AND it will reduce consumption. Econ 101.
The side benefit of gettin' smokers panties in a twist is just a bonus.
A troll is a troll is a troll.....you will also be paying for this.
Don’t fool yourself.
The harsh reality is that smokers, during the course of their lifetime acually are a smaller drain than non-smokers; throw diabetics and AIDS patients into the mix and it works out to about half.
They simply die before the big bucks are due.
But it is a nasty habit, it stinks, it annoys the flock overall and the law of diminishing returns brings in less revenue with each increase in taxes.
We’ll soon need another whipping boy and the fatties are first on the list, I’m afraid.
My husband and I love to go to Vegas, where hubby is actually ALLOWED to enjoy a cigar with his adult beverage with other like-minded adults. I love playing slots.
Low class, huh? Nice. I bet (pun intended) the people with whom I associate with are high-class enough not to make a statement like that.
Tell that to Rush.
True they die younger, and true they cost less in medical costs....but that's only part of the equation. The TRUE cost of a cigarette pack are estimated to be $40-$222 a pack.
I'm off to watch the Super Bowl.
Why not just make it illegal? Econ 101 will also tell you that if you want to fund a project via a tax on a product, you will have a hard time funding that project if your goal is reduce purchasing of that taxed product.
This reminds me of the Rainbow Push Coalition. They claim to fight racism, but they do not make money if there's no racism. Jackson is addicted to the money he makes with the racism claims, so does he REALLY want to end racism?
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There ya go. You nailed the truth.
He is off to watch the Super Bowl. LOL
BTTT!
You can certainly roll or stuff your own cigs. It’s much much cheaper and the tobacco tastes better, too. Try www.smokinglobby.com RYO section.
Loose tobacco is in a different tax class than cig packs or cartons.
It should be interesting to see if my green thumb can extend to my favorite habit.
/Salute
WTH would the governments, at all levels, do if people actually quit smoking, drinking, and gambling for a couple of months?
More to the point, when are “we” going to lay up supplies; pay the bills ahead, and not work for a couple of months, cutting off both payroll & sales taxes?
“Just what we needed- more spending. Jeesh!”
If the title is correct, technically is it being funded by smokers, like me. I swear...what ISN’t being funded by smokers. Can’t we tax something EVERYONE uses....toilet paper?
I CAN move over to pine cones, ya know...
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