Posted on 03/13/2009 3:07:22 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Tobacco connoisseurs can't catch a break.
A new federal tax recently approved by President Obama has increased cigarette carton prices by more than $10 - about 75 cents a pack.
The tax was passed in January as part of a multibillion dollar package to provide health care for children and certain legal immigrants. Local tobacco users and dealers admit the cause is admirable, but said the tax is unjust.
There is about zero common sense or logic in this whole tax, said David Roth, owner of Tobacco Alley in Somerset. It is a revenue stream that has been drying up for years.
Cigarettes are not the only tobacco product with rising prices. Roth said bagged tobacco will be increased by $25 a pound.
The tax becomes official in April; however, retailers said that manufacturers have already increased their prices to prepare for the hike. As a result, prices in stores started going up on Monday.
The more you raise taxes on this product, the less money the government is bringing in, Roth said. That many more people are quitting or going to the black market.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha voted for the tax to help bring health care to 11 million children, including 227,000 in Pennsylvania, according to a prepared statement from his office.
The CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) improves both the health and chance for success of these children, and it saves us money by reducing costly emergency room visits which have come to supplement primary care, Murtha said.
Alice Holler, a smoker from the Meyersdale area, said she doesn't have a problem with helping children. But coupled with the state smoking ban, Holler said smokers are being hit too hard. The ban started in September and prohibits smoking in most public places.
I feel they should start taxing something else instead of cigarettes, she said while walking along West Main Street in Somerset on Thursday. She suggested levying a tax on alcohol instead.
Sheetz waited until Wednesday to raise its tobacco prices. Lou Sheetz, vice president of marketing, said tobacco sales equal about one-third of their in-store business.
The tax is excessive, he said. The money will be put to good use, I am sure. It will be a burden to that (smoking) portion of adults.
Sheetz said customers usually blame the retailer for price increases. But when it comes to taxation, Sheetz said, their hands are tied.
It isn't real until it hits, and it hit us, he said. Now we have to pass it on to the customer.
This is debatable. For most of us, the bulk of our health care costs will be incurred during the last two years of our lives. Doesn't matter if we are 18 and dying of leukemia, 55 and dying of lung cancer or 90 and dying of heart disease.
One thing about all these non smokers who retire at 65 and live healthily for another 20+ years is that they're not only racking up routine medical costs associated with aging but they're collecting a lot more social security and pension checks than their smoking counterparts who had the good nature to die earlier. And as far as medical costs go, lung cancer is pretty cheap to treat. Give the patient pain killers, make them comfortable and help them find peace in their final days. That's really about it.
I used to get a cup of coffee in the morning along with my smokes. That was until tuesday when I suffered sticker shock. The coffee had to go.
I’ll quit on my own terms if and when I want to. I’ll be damned if the government is going to force me to quit. F’em!
BTW, since I’m paying more taxes as a smoker to fund a health program, can’t I deduct my cigarettes as healthcare?
I’m just sayin’ LOL
Wouldn't 75 cents a pack be $7.50 a carton, not $10.00 a carton.
Yes, the math is a little off, but the article was probably written by a journalism school graduate.
That increase is 3X the .25/pack I sold them for, INCLUDING taxes, when I was young, stupid, and worked at a discount SERVICE—not gas—station. (Pump gas, wash windshield, other windows, and head & tail light lenses; [’check’ wiper blades, to try to sell new ones]; check oil, radiator, other fluids; check air pressure, tout service bay & tire specials....)
There are 10 packs in a carton - the math doesn't work.
Do it for the ... chilren: (SCHIPS theme song)
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!(That Cigarette)
Now I’m a fellow with a heart of gold
And the ways of a gentleman I’ve been told
Kind-of-a-guy that wouldn’t even harm a flea
full verse http://www.tobacco.org/History/Smoke_Cigarette.html
Agree and I don't smoke.
No conservative should support sticking his f’n nose in other peoples’ use of a (for now) legal commodity.
Interesting information.
I just have one question: What does your Mom say about how it tastes?
I respectfully considered your position until you wrote:
“And as far as medical costs go, lung cancer is pretty cheap to treat. Give the patient pain killers, make them comfortable and help them find peace in their final days. That’s really about it.”
Clearly you haven’t gone through this hell from early to late stage to death with anyone or you wouldn’t say that.
As for the elderly’s health care; can’t argue that, and never have been a fan of covering all their costs, but let’s not start penalizing people for making it to old age.
I don't even smoke cigarettes and I know that there are ten packs in a carton. Ten times 75¢ is less than ten dollars, not more.
Having dealt with retail sales, I completely believe him. Let’s face it, the average person doesn’t keep up on what the government is doing to him, nor does he have any desire to.
Good....Less kids will become addicted. No conservative should support smoking.
Oh those pesky freedoms. I guess you don’t advocate personal responsibility like a true conservative. I never saw you write liberal before. This is very new and disappointing. Next I guess you will advocate doing away with sweets, baked goods, fast food, guns and alcohol all of which would be for good of the children as is your trademark (at least in your last post).
Another “Progressive Republican”, huh?
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