Smokers, drinkers to carry tax burden?

politico.com ^ | 5/13/09 | CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

The Senate Finance Committee considers the option of taxing vices to pay for health care reform. Photo: Reuters

If you make big bucks — or enjoy alcohol, cigarettes and Coke — the government might hit you up to pay for fixing the nation’s health care system.

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee peeked into vending machines and liquor stores, company payrolls and health savings accounts, looking for a mix of tax increases and spending cuts as a way to pay for a health overhaul — which could cost more than $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

Experts thought the big debate might be public plan vs. no public plan. But that may well pale in comparison to the difficulty of settling on a way to finance health care reform.

“I wish there were a number of painless options,” Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, wrote in his prepared testimony. “There aren’t.”

There appeared to be a bubble of support among the experts for taxing bad behavior, including a $2 tax on a pack of cigarettes and a higher excise tax on alcohol.

[KoRn]

I’m about to throw down the smokes for good. I’ll be giving myself a great tax cut!

Better yet, with the money saved I can buy lots of ammo!

(getting ready to leave to go pick up a Saiga 12g w00t))

[Tainan]

yeah...I’m thinking its about time to start looking at an alternative to the current regieme in power at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[cripplecreek]

2200% increase in the tax on tobacco. That says something.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I say they tax the bottles of vitamin water the people are dumb enough to fall for anyway.

Leave Cola,cigarettes,alone!

What is next---taxing beer?

[CholeraJoe]

Saiga 12? Love mine:

[Need4Truth]

People who like the tax-free status of their company health benefits could be asked to ante up

asked???? how about forced by an out of control gubmint.

[Frogtacos]

I think I will cry when the time comes to toss my cigarettes, beer, and Diet Coke into the harbor.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Cigarette tax ALREADY went up so is this an additional tax?

Generic cigarettes are the new popular brand.

[netmilsmom]

Hubby quit smoking a year ago.
I smoke when I drink so I stopped drinking. (i’m not kidding)

I’ve just gotten 500 teabags from Sam’s Club and I’m trying to cut down on Diet Coke.

When they tax Coffee, someone’s going to get hurt.

[Dr. Ursus]

How about taxing a real killer-fried poultry!

[cripplecreek]

I’m about to throw down the smokes for good. I’ll be giving myself a great tax cut!

That's kinda the whole problem with enormous taxes for your own good. They actually work, leaving a dry revenue well.

Here in Michigan Jenni Granholm was astounded by the "breathtaking" drop in tobacco and lottery revenue before the massive tax increase. She's going to keel over dead when she see's what happens with the new taxes.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

After reading this entire article. I think they will end up taxing smokes and beer. They are throwing out taxing cola so that when we are taxed up the butt for beer and cigarettes it is a compromise.

The people that Obama gave a pay raise to on welfare will be ticked when their MD 20/20 goes up. But it is free anyway why should they care?

[reaganaut1]

Republicans need to make the case that when government pays for everyone’s health care, it will run everyone’s life.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Coffee is already ex$pen$ive enough!

[GeorgiaDawg32]

I roll my own and had it to about .91 per pack..then his increase went into effect..it’s now (including tubes) about $2.60 per pack..

I ran out of tobacco a few days ago but have a few packs (of the cheap stuff) left..I’m seriously debating quitting, however, he’s taxing everything else so I’m stuck paying the tax no matter what I do..

[cripplecreek]

I was already smoking generic years ago. Then I switched to roll your own loose tobacco. The price on that more than doubled with the new tax to over $50 for a 16 oz bag.

[RU88]

Once again, Zero and his minions can't help themselves. They've never seen a tax they thought was too low. Any one of these alternatives is horrendous. Taxing cigs an additional $2 a pack, on top of the recent increase, is not going to do it because in my opinion you will have reached a tipping point where you're going to find a lot of folks quitting. Taxing health insurance benefits will also cause some to decline coverage at work because of the additional cost involved.

So there you have it. Welcome to the world of Obama.
FUBO

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I may start growing tobacco.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Yeah he is also thinking about taxing the very health insurance that is suppose to be the reason for taxing everything.

ALL of this taxing to pay for illegals health care! This pisses me off beyond pissed.