Three-Fourths Of Pennsylvania Voters Favor Tobacco Tax Increase

Yahoo ^ | May 7, 2002

[SheLion]

Aren't we ALL sick of hearing IT'S FOR THE KIDS???!!!

And of COURSE the non-smoking voters want this tax. So THEY don't have to pay!!

"In fact, they are more likely to reward these legislators with their support." Sure! Pennsylvania is in the pocket of the Robert Wood JOHNSON Foundation.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

And more Republicans are turning against us and turning in RINO'S. What's UP with this!

[Wolfie]

Try not to take it personally. State governments have found a cash cow, one that nobody will really stand up to defend, and are milking it dry. Demonization of sub-cultures for political/monetary gain is a pillar of American politics. So it goes.

[jaq]

Even more dramatically, voters of both parties are willing to cross party lines to vote for a candidate of the opposite party who supports the tobacco tax. By a margin of 57 percent to 30 percent, Republicans would support a Democrat who supports the tax over a member of their own party who opposes it. Likewise, Democrats prefer a Republican who supports the tax to a Democrat who opposes it by 56 percent to 30 percent.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over this. The whole article lacks credibility, in particular, the above paragraph. Demos won't cross party lines on this minor of an issue.

[SheLion]

Why Politicians Are Suddenly Hungry For A "Fat Tax"

Obesity exacts a higher toll on health and healthcare costs than either smoking or drinking as serious obesity-related problems like diabetes are near epidemic levels, according to a study released on Tuesday.

Their all hyprocrites

Tobcco Money

[SheLion]

These are REPUBLICANS we are talking about!!!!

[Wolfie]

And that shocks you because...?

[SheLion]

The whole article lacks credibility, in particular, the above paragraph. Demos won't cross party lines on this minor of an issue.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids / American Cancer Society / American Lung Association

[SheLion]

Do you like it when our own kind turn against us???? "I" don't!

[Publius6961]

Ha ha ha ha.
"democracy" at work.
Three wolves and a sheep voting on what's for lunch.

Remember when we had a Constitutional Republic?

[Phantom Lord]

NY just raised their tobacco tax and NYers along the PA border are flooding the state with tobacco tax dollars by buying in PA. Increase it a $1 and that revenue source will go away. Along with PA smokers turning to internet purchases tax free.

I grew up 15 minutes from the PA border. My family members and friends back there that smoke make regular trips to Smokin Joe's in PA to buy smokes.

[Wolfie]

Well, I'd say they turned against you a long time ago. Both Reps and Dems are tax and spend types, depending on the issue. Usually they're on opposite sides of the fence, but the tobacco tax provides some nice common ground for them both.

[SheLion]

They raise taxes to balance their budgets, yet they spew they want a "smoke free EVERYthing!" They can't have both............

[metesky]

I take it personally. If more people did maybe we could stand up to these grandstanding SOBs.

Look, Wolfie, they put me in prison in '66-'67 trying to force me to stop smoking weed.

It didn't work, and in fact more people than ever are today clamoring for some aspect of weed legalization.

History has a way of repeating itself and the only way to stop this sh!t is to stand up, take it personally, fight like crazy and not slink away as they want us to.

[wattsmag2]

I guess that means that 3/4 of Pennsylvanians do not smoke.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

"Among the options that are on the table, increasing the tobacco tax is clearly the most preferred solution to the state's revenue crisis,"

How about firing a bunch of useless bureaucrats?

The bureaucrats and the corrupt gov't aparatchiks will always win for as long as the debate is over whose taxes are going to be raised (remember 'divide and conquer' anyone?) rather than why is the state spending more than it gets from the people?

As for the beneficial outcomes of higher 'sin' taxes, are there any studies documenting the probable increase in criminality that higher 'sin' taxes tend to generate?

[Wolfie]

I agree with your sentiments, but I'd say the ball is already rolling too fast to stop.

[SheLion]

I sure HOPE so!

Three hundred thousand people die each year due to obesity-related causes. In terms of dollar amounts, the study found that obesity raised healthcare costs by an average of $395 a year, while smoking increased costs by $230 and heavy drinking is associated with a $150 annual increase.

Obesity exacts a higher toll on health and healthcare costs than either smoking or drinking as serious obesity-related problems like diabetes are near epidemic levels, according to a study released on Tuesday.

[blackdog]

Following all the revenue adicts logic, why not just raise the tax to $5.00 per pack right now? Of course reducing expenditures by some well needed budgetary pruning is just not a real option.

[SheLion]

I guess that means that 3/4 of Pennsylvanians do not smoke.

We all know THAT'S a lie! It's all hype!