[SheLion]

Good ole BloomingIdiot!

AND the City COUNCEL!

Some banks that process MasterCard transactions have begun blocking sales from certain Internet tobacco sites to customers

It's ok to purchase porn over the Internet with Master Card and who's to say that CHILDREN aren't getting it?  So how can a credit card company stop a transaction?  I think these lawmakers are blowing threatening smoke.

Why would a CREDIT CARD company care WHAT the money is spent for?  There is a chipmunk in the wood pile as far as "I" am concerned.  I am very suspicious of this.  I believe this is just a scare tactic because they are desperate for the money!

[SheLion]

Unless the Master Card Corporation is based in NY and is working for or being paid under the table by these lawmakers, I really don't believe they will stop the sale of anything.

[SheLion]

How desperate are these idiot lawmakers. This is the most pathetic attempt to collect money I have ever witnessed in my entire life.

[Gay State Conservative]

"Mr. Spitzer emphasized that the effort has as much to do with health as money"

Yah....right.We might have been born at night,Comrade, but it wasn't last night!

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Concerned about the booming trade in online cigarette sales, New York state officials have begun using a variety of techniques to clamp down on the trade, saying New York City alone is losing more than $75 million a year in uncollected tax revenues because of the sales.

Oh and I thought they stopped online sales "for the children", to protect them? Now they admit the real reason, it's about the money, not that we didn't know all along.

[keithtoo]

The greediest institutions of all, bar none, are governmental institutions. The cigarette fraud is just making it more obvious.

We need to continue to starve the beast at all levels.

Hurray for the online cig sellers.

[firebrand]

Most of the people ordering cigarettes online are buying them in enormous quantities and reselling them. It is $75 million in tax money they are taking right out of our pockets.

[lolhelp]

Sounds to me like the United States Government needs to retake the State of New York, looks as if the Blooming Aliens have taken it over.

[jocon307]

Eliot Spitzer is a power mad freak. He should be STOPPED, but he'll probably by the next governor.

Let's face it, they think ALL the money is THEIRS FIRST.

Cripes how I hate them all.

[conservative in nyc]

Welcome to New York! If Spitzer actually convinces anyone to stop this, I think we should change our nickname to the Nanny State (although I think California might have beaten us to it).

Did it ever occur to our politicians that maybe people are flocking to Internet sites to buy cigarettes because our cigarette taxes are too high, and they'd likely collect more in taxes if they LOWERED them?

Amazon.com and other Internet retailers that legally refuse to collect New York sales taxes are also flouting New York tax law. Why isn't he also targeting them?

BTW - I wonder if Eliot Spitzer has ever heard of the U.S. Constitution or the Commerce Clause?

[Marak]

Sounds like the real fraud being perpetuated is by the State of NY when they give the reasons for the crack down.

[ApesForEvolution]

I don't smoke anymore - and I'm going to buy a carton online right now...

[The Great RJ]

The whole anti-smoking jihad is all about taxes. Cigarette smokers can be easily taxed "for their own good". Despite all the rhetoric about smoking killing thousands no law maker would seriously consider banning smoking and the sale of cigarettes because of the loss of easy to raise tax revenue.

What's happening in NYC is akin to the story of killing the goose that layed the golden eggs. Greedy law makers seeking to raise revenues by punishing the evil smokers are faced with basic economics. As prices increase buyers will purchase less or look for less costly alternatives. Internet sales are just the tip of the iceberg as I'm sure organized crime is also taking advantage of consumers seeking lower cost smokes.

[microgood]

Mr. Spitzer emphasized that the effort has as much to do with health as money.

ROTFLOL..funniest thing I have read for at least a week.

[Arkie2]

How do you make everyone a criminal? Just keep passing idiotic laws. Pretty soon you can arrest anyone for anything.

[quietolong]

And yet some people just don't get it!

REAL ID BILL PASSES (Sensenbrenner's illegal alien bill passes, will be attached to Iraq bill)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340612/posts

[Continental Soldier]

You are right about at least one thing -- this is all about money!

[Mark]

I also found this older article-
M/C falling in line?:
Attorney General Takes On Internet Cigarette Sales
Mon 02-07-2005 , 6:18 pm
SNIP***
Wisconsin Justice Department officials said Attorney Peg Lautenschlager will soon meet with executives of credit card companies to urge them to review the legality of processing online, cigarette purchases.

Officials said other state attorneys general will also be involved in the meeting. Last month, Lautenschlager and forty two other attorneys general signed on to a letter to credit card company executives which warned them ''virtually all online tobacoo retailers engage in illegal sales.''

SNIP**
http://www.wkowtv.com/$spindb.!query.1listnews.storeview.13993.news

[virgoagogo123]

I was born and raised in PA and moved to NY seven years ago. The taxes here on everything are outrageous. If the state is cracking down on people who buy cigarettes in other states over the internet to save money, why don't they stop cars at the border when they cross into NY after filling up there gas tanks in a state like PA where gas is currently at least 20 cents cheaper per gallon? Why don't they stop my car at the border when I go out of state to purchase clothing that I don't pay taxes on? Instead of spying on law abiding citizens trying to save some money, why don't you crack down on the real crooks? Take a look around your office Mr. Spitzer. What's next? Will you be outlawing coupons used at the grocery stores?

[Caipirabob]

And to think we started the Revolutionary War primarily over a 3% tax.

[EGPWS]

New York City alone is losing more than $75 million a year in uncollected tax revenues because of the sales.

Follow the money.

If it wasn't for the cash flow, why the likes of Nancy Pelosi would be all for revenue reductions of Bush.

After all, without the access via political clout where would the likes of Nancy get their political funding?

Buyer beware when one tells you you aren't paying enough.