New York Reaches Deal to Raise Cigarette Tax

New York Times ^ | June 18, 2010 | NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DANNY HAKIM

[reaganaut1]

I'm not a smoker but am sick of seeing smokers scapegoated. Many of them will find ways to evade these sky-high cigarette taxes, so that the revenues will come in below projections. Good. In general, if there is not enough political support to fund government with a broad-based such as a sales tax, the size of government needs to be cut.

[Past Your Eyes]

I’m glad I quit when they went to 30 cents a pack in the machine in the dorm.

[sodpoodle]

Time to tax marijuana, smack, cocaine and heroin. Those are the drugs that have created the underclass that looks to the Gubmint for subsidized food, shelter and medical care.

Paygo!!!

[CIB-173RDABN]

"The proposal would generate $440 million in revenue this year..

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I don't know much, but I do know every time policticians raise a tax and says it will raise x amount of money, it never does. It more often then not causes the amount to go down.

Why, because people either do without, or find other sources for the product being taxed.

Those running black markets for cigarettes are going to get rich.

When will policticians ever learn?

But you know what, those in New York keep electing these clowns so they are getting the government they wanted.

[Sacajaweau]

This is nothing more than legal prohibition. It’s extortion.

[DJ MacWoW]

But you know what, those in New York keep electing these clowns so they are getting the government they wanted.

I see Freepers post this all the time. I live in NY. I didn't vote for these clowns. Did I get the government I wanted?

[CIB-173RDABN]

I live in California, tell me, who has it worse.

And yes, even as minorities we get the government we wanted because we still live where we do. When we have had enough, we will move.

[Clive]

More money for the Mohawks.

Watch for increased traffic across the river in the Akwasasne Reserve.

[pnh102]

I see Freepers post this all the time. I live in NY. I didn't vote for these clowns. Did I get the government I wanted?

You're right. I always refer to the people who vote in regimes like the ones under which you live as "the voting majority of %$@$$@ers" instead so that good people like you are excluded.

I live in MD and to say I have any sort of effective representation in our state government here would be a complete and total lie as well.

[DJ MacWoW]

We want to move too but Hubby’s job is here. *sigh*

[DJ MacWoW]

Frustrating as heck, ain’t it. And yet, I live in a “red” area. However in the last 10 years, we had an influx of blue city people moving in.

[italianquaker]

I guit ten years ago when they went to 3.30 a pack from 2.85.
They said the money was going to fund some health care scheme, not from me it didnt

[Hot Tabasco]

I wonder how much tax revenue they are actually losing due to smokers quitting, others cutting down and people buying out of state.

Since the state is so dependent on the taxes now, one would think they would lower them substantially to encourage the smokers to buy in state....But we know how democraps and taxes work.

[Hot Tabasco]

...and notice that they don’t even use the lame excuse of funding their health care due to the burden smokers put on the system.........At least they’re up front about it now.

[CIB-173RDABN]

I have some personal reasons for staying, but I am making plans on leaving as soon as possible.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My last pack of Winstons cost $.50.

[Chode]

PA will see even a bigger jump in sales...

[pnh102]

Frustrating as heck, ain’t it. And yet, I live in a “red” area. However in the last 10 years, we had an influx of blue city people moving in.

Oh man that DOES suck indeed. These damn liberal parasites. Everywhere they live they turn into excrement... and the only way they can survive is to move to another area to ruin anew.

Sounds like Agent Smith's definition of a virus.

[Truth29]

This will just promote more crime and subverting otherwise honest smokers into buying black market. As the value of the smuggled cigarettes rise, it will also encourage violent gangs to defend their loads like the cocaine smugglers in the Southwest. We will see MS-13 like gangs moving in and encounters with AK47 toting guards.

[I_Like_Spam]

Excellent news for New York’s organized crime sector.

Cigarette smuggling is suddenly a lot more profitable.

The long term viability of Paterson’s plan is really suspect. How can one base the fiscal solvency of a rapidly growing government by taxing a product that is decreasing in popularity?