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Study: cigarette taxes 'disproportionately burden' the poor
WOWK ^ | September 19, 2012

Posted on 09/19/2012 6:55:32 PM PDT by SMGFan

ated: Sep 19, 2012 9:57 AM EDT HEALTHDAY NEWS - New research finds that high cigarette taxes take a heavy toll on low-income smokers, compared to those who are wealthier.

In a study, researchers at RTI International found that poor smokers in New York state -- which has the country's highest state cigarette tax at $4.35 a pack -- spent about 25 percent of their household income on cigarettes. Nationally, the average spending was about 14 percent.

By contrast, the richest smokers nationwide and in New York spent about 2 percent of their household income on cigarettes.

"Excise taxes are effective in changing smokers' behavior," study author Matthew Farrelly, chief scientist and senior director of RTI's public health policy research program, said in an RTI statement. "But not all smokers are able to quit, and low-income smokers are disproportionately burdened by these taxes."

Despite the high taxes in New York state, the study found that the percentage of people with incomes under $25,000 who smoked didn't decline from 2003-2004 to 2009-2010.

"Special efforts are needed to reduce smoking among those with low incomes," Farrelly said. "States, especially New York, generate significant revenue from cigarette taxes, but only a small percentage of that money is used for tobacco control programs. It seems only fair that states with high cigarette taxes should adequately fund cessation interventions for low-income smokers who shoulder a disproportionate share of cigarette taxes."

The researchers relied on surveys of more than 13,000 people.

The study, funded by New York State Health Department, appeared Sept. 12 in the journal PLoS One.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
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To: Charles Martel

81 posted on 09/19/2012 9:04:01 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

Amen brother, Amen.


82 posted on 09/19/2012 9:05:03 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I could not say the name of the toupee.
He always claimed that it was “a natural” and the the wife cut and coiffed it LOL


83 posted on 09/19/2012 9:08:36 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: SMGFan

So do gas taxes and alcohol taxes and payroll taxes.


84 posted on 09/19/2012 9:13:10 PM PDT by allmendream (Tea Party did not send GOP to D.C. to negotiate the terms of our surrender to socialism)
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To: mylife
the wife cut and coiffed it

Some videos should be banned from youtube. That would be one I wouldn't want to run across.

It was, however, a wonderful badger specimen before it became his toupee.

/johnny

85 posted on 09/19/2012 9:13:19 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

What I find succinct in what you say is who are the true liberals and who are the authoritarians?

I would suggest that we are more aligned with freedom.

We put that in a wide forgiving social frame work and the so called left tries to pigeon hole every thing and define us in their diversity/s

The Left is crazy.

I cant go off into a field half a mile away from any one to smoke(on my own time) and some one gripes.

But the same group of folks think we should make smoking pole mainstream and we should afford health care benefits to same sex partners with AIDS.

Honestly NONE of this stuff is the Govs business.


86 posted on 09/19/2012 9:22:41 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I hated Traficant but he had good entertainment value.


87 posted on 09/19/2012 9:23:57 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Now I can retire for the day with a smile on my face. Tnx.


88 posted on 09/19/2012 9:34:53 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: All

Honestly folks why are we taxing people on life style?

I Like ciggies and rib eyes and beer

If I die of a heart attack at 60 how is that more of a burden on society or family than if I live to be 95 on the Gov and familial tit and go blind and incontinent while doing all the stuff the Goobermint says I should do?

Why is it the Gov business to worry about these things?
Tax us ALL fairly, provide defense of the nation and get the F out of the way!


89 posted on 09/19/2012 9:38:43 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

I totally agree. They divide everyone up into their voting blocks and than pit them against each other. If you happen to not be in a preferred block than your screwed. I don’t much care what you do as long as it doesn’t affect others, than I say more power to you. I don’t have much use for people that always want to expand what govt can do for me. Eventually It always feels like they are doing it to me instead of for me.


90 posted on 09/19/2012 9:41:02 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Ignorance is bliss- I'm stoked)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

It is complete BS and the Oldest game in the book.
Divide and conquer.
The Dems have refined it to get the rubes to think it’s about unity while they get them to tear each other apart.

Masters of transference and social BS.


91 posted on 09/19/2012 9:46:18 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: One Name
You guys are OK with “sin tax”?

Absolutely not!

Taxes should be low, flat, and only for the purpose of raising revenue to support legitimate state functions. Tax policy should not be used to promote good behavior, beyond the obvious tendency of low taxation to encourage investment and entrepreneurial activity.

92 posted on 09/19/2012 9:47:22 PM PDT by cynwoody
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Who heaped all these disproportionate taxes on the Po?

Oh! That’s right! I was the ever caring Dems!

It’s for the Chilruns!


93 posted on 09/19/2012 9:49:19 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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Ahh the guiding hand of Gov.

They guide us to fight amongst ourselves


94 posted on 09/19/2012 9:53:27 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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Gnight Gang.
This “Us and Them” taxation dichotomy makes me angry.


95 posted on 09/19/2012 9:55:37 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

Well, wierd hair aside, he made a few good speeches.

{:0)


96 posted on 09/19/2012 10:14:45 PM PDT by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: MileHi

I had bigger issues with him than the hair, but he talked a good game.


97 posted on 09/19/2012 10:30:59 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: SMGFan

Cigarette tax disproportionately burdens smokers. And smoking is a choice.


98 posted on 09/19/2012 10:49:11 PM PDT by meyer (It's 1860 all over again - the taxpayer is the new "N" word)
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To: mylife

bttt - I missed a good thread last night. Had no idea there were so many nanny Bloombergs on FR.


99 posted on 09/20/2012 4:31:46 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: JRandomFreeper

“Just wait until they tax YOUR vice. “

They do: Cigars and Scotch.


100 posted on 09/20/2012 6:38:26 AM PDT by CodeToad (Be Prepared...They Are.)
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