They put so much spin on it! I think since people are buying cigarettes from the Net, the Reservations and rolling their own, that revenue just isn't THERE anymore!
Posted on 11/01/2002 11:19:53 PM PST by SheLion
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:08:30 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents are losing health care or social services as a direct result of the more than $500 million cut from the state's human services budget over the last two years, according to a Globe analysis.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
"In addition, cuts in far-reaching public health programs have eliminated nationally recognized smoking cessation programs that served 25,000 adults"
ahhhhhhhh Cigarette taxes from the Tobacco Settlement money running out????????
I wonder what that works out to as $ per person...
They put so much spin on it! I think since people are buying cigarettes from the Net, the Reservations and rolling their own, that revenue just isn't THERE anymore!
As in, "Kids, don't let this happen to you!"
''The fact that the whole system is gasping makes it even more difficult,'' said Carol Brill, executive director of the state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Great, now I'm going to have the image of this outfit permanently emblazoned in my mind like the shower scene in "Psycho."
I'm in California and since I really hate seeing people deprived of their God-given right to free health care I say just raise the taxes on cigarettes again and voila! problem solved.
In fact, I'll volunteer to up my intake of tobacco if it'll help the children, the sick[os], and the welfare leeches.
Am I wonderful, or what? :-)
hahaha Raising state taxes just sends smokers to the Internet, the Reservations or rolling their own. The states shot the goose that laid the golden egg when they priced a legal commodity out of site.
You might be wonderful, but your idea isn't working!
American smokers are SMARTER then that.
I just SAW this! FREE HEALTH CARE? BOY, HAVE YOU BEEN DUPED.
The BIG LIE That Smoking is an Economic Burden To Society
The Congressional Research Service, in the 1998 revision of their study found: Smokers cost the federal government $9 billion in medical care and $10 billion in lost contributions to social security, etc. But they also found they save $40 billion in retirement costs (mostly social security), about $8 billion in nursing home costs (mostly from Medicaid), and they collect $5.6 billion in cigarette taxes. When added up, smokers saved the federal government $34.6 billion dollars yearly.
State governments saved money too. After subtracting net medical costs of $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion from lost contributions from a savings of $4.8 billion in nursing home costs financed through Medicaid and $.6 billion in retirement savings, and $7.6 billion in cigarette taxes, smokers saved the states almost $9.7 billion.
That's a total saving of $44.3 billion.
Since this 1998 report, taxes have skyrocketed on cigarettes in many states and the tobacco settlement was signed. The settlement was for reimbursement of past and future medical expenses, so states have not only been reimbursed, but smokers are paid up to infinity on future medical costs.
Leaving out new taxes and the settlement, smokers have been overpaying the state and federal governments for an average $950 each year I figure. But to be fair, there are about the same number as former smokers as smokers so if there is ever a rebate given, it should be split up between the two groups and average about $475 each, each year.
Now, the state insurance program may feel the effects of smoker’s costs, but either it should be taken out of the excise tax or figured into the tobacco settlement, which supposedly covers it.
Right now I smoke Benson & Hedges menthol and I'm still trying to find some tobacco that would be similar. Do you have any suggestions?
Sea Lion, I thought my post was so over the top that it didn't really require a sarcasm tag.
Sarcasm Tag???? I sure didn't give you a sacrasm tag.
As long as you're here, though, can I pick your brains for a minute?
Sorry, I had to leave before I got your post.
Right now I smoke Benson & Hedges menthol and I'm still trying to find some tobacco that would be similar. Do you have any suggestions?
I smoked More Menthol for many many years. There was none other that could compare. I never thought I would be able to switch tobacco. However, when Maine jumped the cigarette tax up to $50 dollars for a carton, we went to our local Smoke Shop, bought a bag of menthol for me and regular for hubby, the filtered tubes and the little plastic cigarette roller.
I rolled one, smoked it, smiled....rolled one for hubby, and HE smiled. That was a year ago this past June. Have been rolling ever since and never looked back. Of course, we bought the big Supermatic Machine over the net.
Since everyone's taste is different with tobacco, I would suggest that you buy one bag and just experiment. Just knowing that you aren't paying into the state coffers anymore should make AlL the tobacco taste good. heh!
Yeah, I noticed my screw-up right after I hit the Post button. lol
Sarcasm Tag???? I sure didn't give you a sacrasm tag.
No, no, no. I just wanted to make sure that you understood that my Post 6 was sarcasm, that's all.
Since everyone's taste is different with tobacco, I would suggest that you buy one bag and just experiment.
I'll keep doing that. I noticed that they also sell menthol tubes so I'm gonna try that too.
Just knowing that you aren't paying into the state coffers anymore should make AlL the tobacco taste good. heh!
Ain't that the truth!
Just what I was going to say....... where has all that lovely money gone.
LOL, you are indeed, give yourself a hug. :-}
LOL, It was, but SheLion has been up all night.
How many times can you raise taxes on tobacco before even the rich quit buying packs?
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