California : If you smoke, you'll fume (State socialists find lots of money!)

Sac Bee ^ | 8/7/02 | Jim Sanders

[NormsRevenge]

A $3-a-pack tax is urged instead of a levy on cars to end Capitol's gridlock.

California would increase cigarette taxes to $3 per pack -- highest in the nation -- under a proposal Tuesday that Assembly Democrats hailed as part of their "end game" to solve the state's budget stalemate.

[NormsRevenge]

Hack,,, Cough ,, Wheeze,,, Yup.. $8 a pack. That ought to make the crime rate raise.

Thanks Guv and all you little minded socialists. Pick on those who are addicted. It works for the prison lobbyists.

DUMP DAVI$ & the Den of Socialists



GO SIMON

[tomakaze]

Looks like I'll be able to make a significant chunk of change smuggling tobacco to Cali if the fools down there let their reps pass this BS.

[stumpy]

If they go with the nickel a bullet tax, I'll donate my last $5.00 if they use the bullets for politicians and attorneys. That would do more to cut the gov't spending.

[HELLRAISER II]

They are determined to make smokers pay the brunt of most taxes therefore turning them into criminals because they will most definately go to the black market to escape these unconstitutional taxes. When this happens, well Tobacco smokers welcome to the same black market that supplies all the illegal drugs across the U.S. that some of ya'll are alway's complaining about. It's not very nice to be forced into something like this, now you know how we feel.

[robertpaulsen]

"By switching more of the state's financial burden to smokers, the new budget proposal would eliminate a proposed doubling of California's vehicle licensing fee."

There you go. California doesn't have a car problem, it has a smokers problem.

It's OK if the highways are congested and polluting, get rid of those tobacco smokers (and make room for the "other" smokers?).

[hattend]

Hmmm... I see a whole new career path ahead of me.

A cargo van, seed money, and a few trips a month to Nevada or Oregon to pick up cigarettes.

Alcohol prohibition made the Kennedys rich, tobacco prohibition should work for me, too. (let's call it what it really is)

And when the 5 cents a round ammo tax is implemented I can see diversification of my business.

[Publius6961]

A recent Field Institute poll showed that more than seven of every 10 Californians would support higher liquor or cigarette taxes as an alternative to cutting health care for the poor or disabled.

This is hilarious.
By sheer coincidence this divides proportionally as smokers to non-smokers.

Great. Since their charitable inclinations have been established, let's tax non-smokers only!

It makes emminent good sense:

They have already stated their charitable inclinations.
Their individual share of the new tax would be just one third as otherwise.

Or most importantly, three times as much revenue can be raised.

Works for me.

[nothingnew]

PUFF!

FMCDH

[no-s]

Got your distribution network in place yet?

[goldstategop]

The Rats are creative with Enron style accounting. However they try to shift the tax burden its still a budget that stinks to high heaven and the people of California can't afford it. And until they stop playing games and begin to negotiate spending cuts, tax cuts, and a real permanent limit on future spending with the Republican leadership they won't have a budget to send to GrayDown to sign.

[mysterio]

I wouldn't count on GOP support for smokers. I did in my state, and I was quite disappointed. Now there is a $10,000 maximum fine for tossing a cigarette out of your car window. And many new cars don't have ashtrays. My vote may not be enough to swing an election, but I think I've cast my last vote for candidates from either of the major parties.

[Just another Joe]

"My proposal is a win-win for Republicans, for Democrats -- and for all Californians," Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson said. "Either people quit smoking, which is good for everyone, or their habits help us balance our budget."

Screw you Herb Wesson! Why don't you go find some pork barrel liberal spending to cut instead of sticking it to the smokers AGAIN.

The new proposal is also expected to result in a proportional increase in taxes on cigars and smokeless tobacco.

And it's not just cigarettes, people. Looks like ALL forms of tobacco, regardless of what type.

Growing your own is looking more attractive every day.

[nimc]

That would save me about $500 in VLF, but cost me $1200 in tobacco tax. Something tells me I'm going to pay both Davis's malfeasance taxes.

[AnnaZ]

A recent Field Institute poll showed that more than seven of every 10 Californians would support higher liquor or cigarette taxes as an alternative to cutting health care for the poor or disabled.

 

What the hell kind of a question is that? Two choices: higher "sin" taxes or death to the poor and disabled. Kalifornia politics are a cruel joke.

[Weimdog]

Screw the SOCIALISTS and screw Davis, I'm going to the nearest Indian Reservation to buy my Marlboros.

[NormsRevenge]

Old TaXes never Die .. They just get re-named .

Schools (Read "the children") would receive an unexpected windfall. Proposition 98 would require the state to funnel about $500 million of the new revenues (revenues=derived from Sin Taxes) to public schools and community colleges. ..

Somehow, this seems like blood money to me, and to then claim it will help the schools.. Laughable.. Nothing can help our schools as long as the current crop of crazed liebrals intent on destroying this nation are allowed to serve in any govt position.

That GraYouT would support the new proposals is typical. He would sign anything these days. (except a parole request from a battered woman imprisoned for spousal "murder")

He hasn;t got an original idea of his own. Here's to a GraYouT Free 2003.

[goldstategop]

Herb Wesson is an idiot. Smokers won't pay $3.00 a pack for tobacco; they'll head for the Indian reservations or the Internet to stock up. And California will actually lose revenue as a result. Yeah smokers are not a constituency that has any real political friends in either party but contrary to the boasts of the Assembly Speaker, they still have choice about where to find the cartons needed to blow smoke in his and the rest of the clueless liberals' faces.

[Kobyashi1942]

Why don't the Rep's propose a $50 tax on everyone who uses an emergency room in the state for each visit? Or a $100 "fee" on each student enrolled in public school? Call them "user fees", just like the dems frequently do, and have the Republicans submit their budget, rife with fees and tax increases (on liberal constituents).

[GailA]

HOW ABOUT A $50 tax on unmarried unprotected sex since that tends to produce out of wed lock babies to be State supported, and STD's to be paid for by taxpayers through higher medical cost?

[Max McGarrity]

Hehehe, remember (according to Stan Glantz) Californians are kept from buying elsewhere because we're "surrounded by mountains, deserts and an ocean."

Folks, the United Pro Choice Smoker's Rights Newsletter has links at the bottom to each state's lawmakers. Make use of them and subscribe (it's free) to stay ahead of the freedom-hating, tax-loving bastages.