Newsom's cigarette-fee proposal approved (San Francisco)

San Francisco Examiner ^ | June 30, 2009 | Examiner Staff Writer

[walkerk]

SAN FRANCISCO — A proposal by the mayor to add a per-pack fee to cigarettes sold in San Francisco was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee. The ordinance, which is expected to receive full board approval, would boost the cost of a pack by 33 cents starting Oct. 1. Newsom said the fee will help The City’s budget and offset the cost incurred to clean up butts.

[walkerk]

Feel free to flick your butts anywhere in S.F. - you're paying for it.

[period end of story]

Butt Tax hits San Fran Sicko.

[JerseyJohn61]

Smokers are taxed because it is deemed that they are making
a dangerous lifestyle choice.

Why not tax beverages in gay bar also, because of the
dangerous choices that promiscuous “butt boys” make.

The health care system struggles with AIDS and well
as lung cancer.

JJ61

[trumandogz]

I never could figure out why so many smokers insist on littering wherever they go. In the streets, highways, sidewalks, parks, beaches and just about everywhere, you will find cigarette butts discarded by those who elect to litter.

Instead of a tax, there should be stiff fines.

[Califreak]

The fudge packers union would start a bloody riot over that.

[JerseyJohn61]

Agree strongly with both your points.

JJ61

[Califreak]

Hubby and I smoke, but we never throw our butts around.

[trumandogz]

It may not be done by you, but it is being done by other people.

And that is why I say, Fine them Big, but do not tax.

[dila813]

everyone should switch to snuff or snus to stick it to them.

[Dahoser]

Don’t forget that in addition to the butts, some smokers also believe the cellophane top of a pack and the foil are fair game to toss on the ground.

[Mister Muggles]

"offset the cost incurred to clean up butts."

Oh...I am sooo tempted.

[repubpub]

And to think that this guy is going to be governor of CA soon. If we thought that Arnie was an idiot with his tax plan wait for this slime to take over. Illegals will get a license, prop 8 and 13 will be gone. He'll tax taxes so we Californians can pay for the new marriage license's for the gay couples.

[midway]

Time for some enterprising person to open a ciggie store just over the city limits line in Daly City.

[VeniVidiVici]

Instead of a tax, there should be stiff fines.

There already are. But go ahead and create a few more laws to ban it. It'll make you feel better.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Does anyone with half a brain believe for a second that SF spends a penny to pick up cigarette butts in their sanctuary city?

This is a city that lets bums take dumps on the sidewalks anywhere. And if you actually make the mistake of pointing it out to the police, they treat you as the criminal, not those craping on the property of your business or home.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Cigarette smuggling is going to outstrip the drug trade before long.

[Rebelbase]

“Butt Tax hits San Fran Sicko. “

A Butt Access tax would pay off the San Fran city debt.

[trumandogz]

Don’t forget that in addition to the butts, some smokers also believe the cellophane top of a pack and the foil are fair game to toss on the ground.

Not only that but, I often see entire empty cigarette packs littering the streets. It seems, that for some reason, smokers believe they have the right to litter.

[Califreak]

I always think, “No wonder people hate smokers” when I see butts all over the place.

It’s tacky.