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Obama calls for cigarette tax hike of 94 cents a pack
CNN ^ | 04/10/2013 | By Steve Hargreaves

Posted on 04/10/2013 1:32:46 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd

President's Obama's call for a 94-cent-a-pack hike on federal cigarette taxes to fund early childhood education programs is controversial.

Anti-smoking groups applaud the proposal, but some tax experts and tobacco companies are against it.

The case for the tax. The tax is being presented as way to fund education and reduce smoking rates. It would raise roughly $78 billion over 10 years.

"The proposed tobacco tax increase would have substantial public health benefits, particularly for young Americans," the president's budget read. "Researchers have found that raising taxes on cigarettes significantly reduces consumption, with especially large effects on youth smoking."

After a 62-cent-a-pack tax hike was passed in 2009, cigarette sales dropped by 10%, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

more....

Why it may be a bad idea. The biggest argument against the tax is that it will fund early childhood education on the backs of the poor. Not only is the tax not progressive - it does not go up the more money one makes -- but a higher percent of smokers are middle or low income.

The median household income for a smoker in 2011 was $27,700 compared to $45,761 for nonsmokers, according to Reynolds American (RAI, Fortune 500), a cigarette maker which is, unsurprisingly, against the tax.

Nearly half of all smokers had a household income of less than $25,000 a year. Meanwhile, under 15% of smokers had a household income over $75,000.

more...

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antitobaccoscam; bullystate; childrenofthestate; cigarettetax; cigarettetaxhike; cigarettetaxscam; education; nonsmokers; obama; preexistingcondition; preschool; scam; smoking
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas
A true tobacco farm operation is going to be elaborate, but not a home grower who is limited to 1/10 of an acre.

Does home-grown taste good?

Yes, for the major reason that all the additives aren't in it that you find in the mass market products. Additives, I might, that are required by the same government that sued the major manufacturers.

81 posted on 04/10/2013 4:57:55 PM PDT by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: Gabz

you are a dork


82 posted on 04/10/2013 5:00:38 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Gabz

-— . Additives, I might, that are required by the same government that sued the major manufacturers. -—

Ugh.


83 posted on 04/10/2013 5:01:41 PM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas
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To: yldstrk

I would rather be a dork than a supporter of the O’s tax raising.


84 posted on 04/10/2013 5:03:43 PM PDT by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

It’s time for a Wig Tax so Moochelle will pay her fair share.


85 posted on 04/10/2013 5:04:18 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Compliance with Tyranny is Treason...)
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To: Gabz

well that’s good because you are a dork


86 posted on 04/10/2013 5:05:25 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Responsibility2nd
This is a winning issue if we are still trying anymore. More suffering caused by the rich white elitists from the Al Gore/Unabomber wing of the democrat party.

Cigarette taxes in the United States

In a study conducted on behalf of the New York State Department of Health, it revealed that low-income smokers (those in households making under $30,000), spent an average of 23.6% of their annual household income on cigarettes, compared to 2.2% for smokers in households making over $60,000.[15]

87 posted on 04/10/2013 5:24:46 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: yldstrk

What are you, 13, noob? Even my 14yo gave that nonsense up a few years ago.

I’m sure you have a habit that others wouldn’t like and would be rather peeved if they supported taxing you for it - or are you happy with taxing all things everyone, including you, that others dislike? I seriously doubt you would be, thus you are not only a tax hiking O supporter, you are a hypocrite.

I take being called a dork by the likes of you as a high compliment.


88 posted on 04/10/2013 5:25:07 PM PDT by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Wunderbar. Just frickin’ wunderbar.


89 posted on 04/10/2013 6:29:56 PM PDT by patton (“Really? Have you tried chewing cloves?”)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Thanks for the ping!


90 posted on 04/10/2013 8:25:47 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Responsibility2nd
"President's Obama's call for a 94-cent-a-pack hike on federal cigarette taxes to fund early childhood education programs"

Is the objective to kill smoking or kill funding for early childhood education?
91 posted on 04/10/2013 11:39:07 PM PDT by clearcarbon
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To: Gabz

Oops. Despite having spent so many childhood summer weekends on the Eastern Shore it slipped my mind.

Best regards


92 posted on 04/11/2013 4:12:02 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Rodney Dangerfield

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts caught up with a friend of mine for her on-line purchases.

They wanted the unpaid taxes,plus interest and penalties.

She was 75 years old and fighting cancer,

They wouldn’t even let her make installment payments without adding more interest and penalties.

Despicable people !

.


93 posted on 04/11/2013 5:06:06 PM PDT by Mears
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To: Responsibility2nd

Nothing in this budget proposal is actually going to get through the House or even see the floor.

Its a federal tax so it doesn’t help the honest entrepeneurs involved in state to state cigarette tax arbitrage. (I won’t call them smugglers, the real criminals are greedy statists who rob people of their money for their own good of course).


94 posted on 04/11/2013 7:54:15 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084 (I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer to drink a bunch of them. Stay thirsty my FRiends)
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To: yldstrk; Gabz

Henceforth, you will be known as poopyface.

My attorney put in the word henceforth.


95 posted on 04/11/2013 10:23:08 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084 (I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer to drink a bunch of them. Stay thirsty my FRiends)
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To: Eric Blair 2084

lol


96 posted on 04/12/2013 12:16:10 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Gabz

“Same with smokers. They are stupid.

So are people who insult others...........”

You just called yourself stoopid


97 posted on 04/12/2013 12:17:48 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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