CIG BOOTLEGGER'S 'BRIBE' AND BUST

New York Post ^ | 2/07/04 | BILL GALLAGHER

[Gabz]

Outlaw them and be done with it and go without taxes from cigs and then spend millions to enforce the laws.

The antis would be screaming bloody murder, because the money would have to come from somewhere else. For example, Virginia has the lowest cig tax in the nation.......based on last year's sales of cigarettes $303.1 million dollars in sales and excise taxes were paid in the state. and the Governor wants to kill the golden goose by cranking the cig tax up to 75 cents a pack.....plus increase the sales tax by another penny, which is paid ontop of the excise tax.......

That $303 million was more than twice the amount from alcoholic beverages for the same time frame.......can you imagine the outcry with just a doubling of the booze tax? Yet they want a 1000% increase in the state protion of the cigarette tax and let the counties tack on upto another 2000%.

[SheLion]

I thought I'd ping you on this, it really shows elitists hypocrisy at its most blatant. I'm happy the Post made it a front page story, and I hope Bloomberg is challenged on this on his next foray onto talk radio, which happens regularly on Fridays on the John Gambling show.

I can't for the life of me understand how the lawmakers actually think we smokers are going to just roll over and take whatever they try to dish out to us.  It's the American Way to Shop Cheap, and the American's who smoke are finding much cheaper alternatives then ever before, and NOT pay into the state coffers.

You talk about DISCIMINATION!  Well, the discrimination on people who choose to buy a legal commodity and smoke it is becoming way over the top! 

What is mind blowing is:  Mass is planning on a smoking ban as well, but they are allowing gay marriages in the Biblical sense.  Does this make sense to anyone?  It sure doesn't make sense to me.

[CSM]

Let's be more fair and increase the gas taxes. In my state, the tobacco revenue is $1.1 Billion annually and the gas tax brings in $1.0 Billion. I say let's hit everyone, not just smokers and drinkers, and double the gas tax. It is a lifestyle choice to drive, so let's tax that behaviour!

[Gabz]

Won't work - according to the antis driving is a necessity, not a luxury or choice.