Senate Bill S. 1490; Tax increase on cigs

American Conservative Union ^ | September 26, 2003 | ACU Action Alert

[CSM]

The Senate will soon be asked to vote on S. 1490, a bill sponsored by Senator Mitch McConnell, that if passed, attempts to impose a new $13 billion tax on tobacco manufacturers. Worse yet, Senators Judd Gregg, Ted Kennedy, and Mike DeWine plan to introduce legislation granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) complete authority to regulate all areas of the tobacco industry. The mark-up of this bill will take place in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee within the coming weeks. Should the FDA bill be considered on the Senate floor, the McConnell tobacco quota buyout bill will be offered as an amendment.

Passage of these bills will burden lower and middle income Americans with one of the largest tax increases in the last decade, cost hundreds and perhaps thousands of jobs in economically depressed areas, exacerbate states' budget shortfalls, and stifle legitimate competition to the benefit of one market-dominant company, Philip Morris.

Dating back to the 1938 Agricultural Adjustment Act, government limits tobacco farmers by quantity and geography through quotas and a system of price supports that guarantee minimum prices for tobacco. But under the proposed bailout legislation, quotas would be eliminated and tobacco manufacturers would be forced into paying "farmers" anywhere between $11.4 billion to $15.7 billion, depending on the manufacturer's market share – the greater the manufacturer's market share the more the manufacturer pays. However, the vast majority of quota holders are not actually farmers. Rather, 85% of recipients simply own "quota." In fact, quota owners outnumber farmers by about four to one. These non-farmers are due to receive nearly $6 billion.

Compared to other commodity programs, the tobacco quota buyout is far richer. The average payment to tobacco quota owners under the proposed buyout will be more than 307 times higher than the average payment to any other farmer in the United States.

It's 12 times higher than peanuts, 137 times higher than corn, 167 times higher than wheat, and 1,467 times higher than soybeans. We're turning to you--our ACU Actionnet Army of Activists--to stop this bad legislation in its tracks. Type your zip code in the box above and urge your two Senators to vote "NO" on this legislation that would enrich only a handful of individuals and companies, most of whom do not even grow tobacco.

[Wphile]

Phillip Morris isn't the only one being two-faced. The frickin' Congress is. If they don't want people to smoke, why don't they just ban cigarettes all together? The answer...they can't as they are much too dependent on the tax revenue from cigarette sales. The hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to this issue.

[Orangedog]

And yes, 25-30% of their constituents smoke. I guess they think they don't need the 25-30%. They have another thought coming!

Ditto! My house rep and both senators are GOP. All have voted for every anti smoker bill put before them. In November 2004, I will be voting against them. I don't care if it helps put dems in office. I refuse to support anyone working against me. There are so many RINO's and soccer moms in the GOP that they are perfectly safe in the primaries. The only realistic way to flush them out is at the general election.

[StriperSniper]

Philip Morris has found a loop hole around this. They have been shipping cigs at discount overseas and selling them through websites.

They are working on that also:

Senate Bill S.1177; To prevent internet purchases of cigs.

[VRWC_minion]

Smokers have become lower than pond scum. They need a makeover. Unless they show themselves to be as considerate of others as cigar and pipe smokers they will continue to be slammed.

This newest bill is simply a huge income transfer from smokers to "farmers". Its as unseemly as being mugged. The only reason that congress even considers it is because smokers, as a group, continue to be inconsiderate and darn right rude. Even worse than telemarketers.

Will they heed the call and act civil in public ? Unfortunately, for them and us all, they will not. They have no idea how repugnant their smoke is so they have no context in which to judge how their smoke effects others.

[SheLion]

Phillip Morris isn't the only one being two-faced. The frickin' Congress is. If they don't want people to smoke, why don't they just ban cigarettes all together? The answer...they can't as they are much too dependent on the tax revenue from cigarette sales. The hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to this issue.

There is a chipmunk in the woodpile with the smoking issue:

All About Cigarette Taxes

[SheLion]

They are working on that also:

LOL! I think they should start with the PORN sites and the PORN POP-UPS first! Don't you???

[SheLion]

Unfortunately, for them and us all, they will not. They have no idea how repugnant their smoke is so they have no context in which to judge how their smoke effects others.

If you hate smokers so much, WHY do you continue to hang around them? Why?

[CSM]

Gnatzies like you are very rude and selfish. When will these gnatzies wake up and quit trying to impose their own morals on other people. When will they realize that their preferences are not the basis for passing legislation.

I say again: The weakest in our society demand that the government legislate their preferences and morality! Heaven forbid that someone is offended, especially a gnatzie that can stick up for themselves.

In addition, it is not that the smokers are being rude. They are actually standing up for their rights that have been incrementally taken from them. If I am in a bar that allows smoking, I will smoke. If I am in a bar that doesn't allow smoking I will not smoke. I generally live by the rules of the owner of that establishment. However, if someone begins to complain that I am smoking in a bar that allows it, it will drive me to smoke more. They shouldn't frequent an establishment if the owner allows smoking, the would obviously be more comfortable in a non smoking establishment and should go there.

[VRWC_minion]

If you hate smokers so much, WHY do you continue to hang around them? Why?

Love the sinner, hate the sin.

[Neets]

Reformed smoker huh??

The worse kind.

[CSM]

Ah, the high horse again! Now I see......

[SheLion]

Reformed smoker huh??

His wife MADE him quit. Now he can't sink his teeth into us deep enough.........heh!

[Mears]

Are you serious? The senators can buy tax-free cigarettes?

[SheLion]

Ah, the high horse again! Now I see......

His wife made him quit. She wears the pants in the family. But it has turned him into a horrible shrew that just waits for the FR Smoker's Threads so he can come in and bash and trash us, to make himself FEEL better.

[Calpernia]

Now how on earth would anyone be able to enforce that???

[Baseballguy]

Legal, yes. Tobacco is not an easy item from grow to smoke. First it take the plant a year to mature where you take the leaves off to cure.

I have a book where you can buy seeds leaves cured and non cured. order@eonseed.com it has tons of different type of seeds.

[Calpernia]

Is it still Philip Morris? The brands are the same.

[Neets]

AHH! i see...a WUUSIE reformed smoker....*gasp!!!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Do you go into a redneck bar and demand Barry Manilow be put on the juke box? If you do I bet you have a squeaky voice. I don't patronize Chinese restaurants because the food is terrible. Should I demand they serve barbeque or pizza? Get a life and stay away from places that offend you.

[CSM]

"Are you serious? The senators can buy tax-free cigarettes?"

I don't know, I think Gabz posted it. I don't doubt it one bit though! Why should they be subjected to the same rules as their subjects!