Cigarette tax soars in bailout of budget (Michigan Rino's in Action)

Detroit Free Press ^

[RCW2001]

LANSING -- A pack of cigarettes will cost 50 cents more in Michigan under a budget bailout given final approval Tuesday by the state Senate.

Gov. John Engler said he will sign the bill.

The higher tax will take effect Aug. 1 and give Michigan the nation's fifth-highest cigarette tax at $1.25 per pack. The price of a pack would rise to about $4.60.

[Ed_NYC]

Here in NYC you can finance a pack of Marlboros. They're about $ 7 - 7.50/pack.

[jim35]

Our forefathers wrote that the power to tax was the power to destroy. They weren't kidding. This is sickening.

[estrogen]

When are the smokers going to get so fed up they protest in a meaningful way? I can't believe this assault on a legal activity.
If I knew of a way to mobilize smokers to do something that would draw attention to our plight and make a change I'd do it....anyone have any ideas

[No.6]

I quit years ago, but sheesh, the Boston Tea Party was held over smaller taxes than this...

[Just another Joe]

And the states just continue to jump on the bandwagon that will eventually grind to a halt, one way or another.

[Just another Joe]

Well, I have been putting together a tobacco related newsletter and passing it out to the smoke shops in town.
Although many of the chain smoke shops want nothing to do with a tobacco related newsletter at all. I can't understand that. There is nothing in the newsletter that advertises any particular chain, any particular brand, or anything that would take business away from the shops.

[maxwell]

So how many states does that make now, hiking the price to puff and whatnot?

[goldstategop]

I've lost count but I bet they'll never raise the cigarette taxes high enough to price tobacco growers out of production. The money has become a crutch for the Left and all their dear social programs.

[TheGrimReaper]

Another pack of economics geniuses, eh?
Wonder how long they think they can milk the same tired old cow before it drops dead?

[Just another Joe]

Cigarette excise tax increases will increase this year in New York (increased to $1.50 per pack, effective April 3); Connecticut ($1.11, effective April 3); Utah (69.5 cents, effective July 1); Maryland ($1.00, effective July 1); and Nebraska (66 cents, effective October 1). As of January 1, 2002, six states already had taxes of $1 or more per pack. They were: Washington ($1.425); New York ($1.11); Alaska ($1.00); Hawaii ($1.00); Maine ($1.00); and Rhode Island ($1.00). The current national average for state cigarette excise tax is 48.2 cents per pack, up from 44.6 cents in 2001.

In a number of states, legislatures are still in session and continue to consider tobacco tax hikes. Seven states are debating increases that would put their tobacco taxes above $1 per pack. Those states are: California (proposed increase to $1.52); Hawaii ($2.00); Massachusetts ($1.26); Minnesota ($1.08);New Jersey ($1.30); Rhode Island ($1.27) and Vermont ($1.11).

Other states are considering tax increases that are significant but would not yet push them beyond the $1 mark.

[Just another Joe]

Wonder how long they think they can milk the same tired old cow before it drops dead?

Till it drops dead. They'll look for something else to milk then. Maybe a bull. ;^)

[maxwell]

So VA and TX ain't on there yet.

Probably just a matter of time. Last time I was down in God's Country though, the other weekend as a matter of fact, I was seeing cartons for $40. I can still get Marlboro Lights for $23/carton on sale here in the Old Dominion though...

[Just another Joe]

Not yet. It seems the states that, historically, have been involved in tobacco farming are the ones that are resisiting upping the taxes dramatically.
I think that they are the ones that will end up making the money on this.

[SheLion]

Seven Democrats joined 13 Republicans to pass the tax.

13 Republicans. Doncha just love it!

[Just another Joe]

I saw that.
It seems like the RINOs just want to pi$$ off a minority so that they can stay in office.

[kcpopps]

"If I knew of a way to mobilize smokers to do something that would draw attention to our plight and make a change I'd do it"

I would like to see smokers fight back too. But what can we do? One website suggests refusing to donate blood and volunteering to be organ donors... That would get some attention if 25% of the population (smokers) pledged to do something like that. That's pretty strong but hey, they pushed first.

The politicians spend recklessly, can't stick within a budget, and just want more and more and more. They will never willingly give up this "revenue" once they get used to spending it. If everyone quit smoking someday, they will tax something else to replace that "revenue" - if there is anything left to tax.

There is a bill in California being ppushed right now to tax SUV owners above other vehicles. (Can't find that link right now)

They think they can tell us what to drive, what to eat, whether we can smoke and no end in sight. NON_SMOKERS - this will not end with smoking - they are coming for you too.

In Missouri, the General Assembly raised taxes by "only'' $112 million”. But to achieve this fake austerity, legislators traded $1 billion in long-term tobacco settlement revenues for $530 million in near term borrowing -- surely one of the most irresponsible moves in state history.

Spending the money before they have it and giving away the equity at the same time.

"Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state has become lawless or corrupt." - Gandhi

[SheLion]

It seems like the RINOs just want to pi$$ off a minority so that they can stay in office.

That's the problem with this whole thing, Joe. The RINOS know smokers are only 1 out of 4 of their constituents, so why should they give a damn about us.

One lawmaker told me I still had to vote for the RINO, if I don't, then some DemocRAT will take their seat. I am in between a rock and a hard spot here.

[SheLion]

Maine ($1.00)

JOE! Where did you get that information. I need it!!

[SheLion]

Oh forget it. It's already been passed.

But if you have the link to this information, I could still use it.