Free Republic

Supporters of a tobacco tax slated for the June primary ballot launched the opening salvo today of what is expected to be a multimillion dollar campaign, framing their effort as a battle to beat moneyed "big tobacco" interests. At a news conference kicking off the campaign, Proposition 29 proponents cast their measure, which would raise taxes on cigarettes by $1 a pack to fund cancer research and anti-smoking programs, as an approach to improve health and save lives.

Cigarette taxes in New York would jump by $1.60 a pack under a tentative deal reached between Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative leaders, which would give New York the nation’s highest state cigarette taxes. The proposal, which officials said Mr. Paterson would include in an emergency budget bill due for a vote on Monday, would also raise wholesale taxes on other tobacco products like chewing tobacco, bringing the tax on those products closer in line with those of cigarettes. In New York City, which levies steep taxes of its own on tobacco products, a pack of cigarettes would come...

ATLANTA — Mississippi’s tax on cigarettes, at 18 cents a pack the nation’s third-lowest, has not been raised since 1985. Gov. Haley Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist, has long opposed an increase. But this year, state lawmakers have gone from giving little thought to a tobacco tax increase to arguing over how much the tax should go up and where the money should go. And they are not alone. Budget shortfalls are pushing more than 20 states to look to tobacco for revenue, even those that have long been loath to touch cigarette taxes. In the South, where such taxes...

Barely two weeks in office, President Barack Hussein Obama will raise taxes this afternoon with his signature on the SCHIP bill scheduled to pass the House of Representatives today.The reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program includes massive tax increases on cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products. Similar bills were vetoed twice by President George W. Bush in part because of the tax increases. Democrats in the House and Senate have voted overwhelmingly for the tax increases each time the bill was proposed and were joined by a handful of Republicans.The bill Obama will sign today raises the federal...

House may vote on 75-cent-per-pack increase in state cigarette tax By AMY F. BAILEY The Associated Press 5/16/2004, 7:54 a.m. ET LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state House could vote this week to increase the state tax on cigarettes by 75 cents a pack. It's the second time Republican House Speaker Rick Johnson of LeRoy has hinted that the chamber could take up legislation imposing the $2-per-pack tax. He said he decided against holding a vote on the bill last week after support from Democrats appeared unclear. Bills need 55 votes to win approval in the 110-member House, rather than...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. MBAFT News Conference Wednesday April 7 in Clio, Michigan WHAT: News conference to reveal how small businesses will suffer and illegal trafficking and crime grow from 75 cents a pack cigarette tax hike. Proposal to raise taxes by 60% on cigarettes has negative consequences for businesses throughout Genesee and Saginaw counties. WHEN: 10:30am, Wednesday April 7, 2004 WHERE: Shell Food Mart 4141 W. Vienna Rd. Clio, Michigan 48420 810-686-5691 WHO: Tricia Kinley / Mich. Chamber of Commerce Eric Rule / Mich. Retailers Association Robert Coughlin / Eby - Brown Company Larry...

Cigarette taxes in N.J. sending smokers to Delaware— (New Castle-AP) -- Delaware is reaping the benefit of New Jersey's higher cigarette tax. New Jersey is considering raising its cigarette taxes for a third straight year, hiking the tax by 45 cents to 2-dollars-50 cents a pack. Delaware retailers says the taxes are already sending New Jersey residents across the river to Delaware, where the tax is 55 cents a pack. The manager of the Delaware Cigarette and Tobacco Outlet in New Castle, Shirley Legeza (le-GAY-za), says her New Jersey customers buy as many as 30 cartons at a time...

Passage Urged for Budget Amendment for Public Health; Tobacco Tax to Fund Health Programs, Reduce Deficit, and Cut Teen Smoking 3/11/2004 1:46:00 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: National Desk Contact: Unice Lieberman of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 202-661-5711 or Unice.Lieberman@cancer.org WASHINGTON, March 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- An American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) proposal to increase the budget for public health while substantially reducing the national debt by increasing the federal tobacco tax to one dollar will be offered as an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution by Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)....

<p>New Yorkers dodging heavy taxes on cigarettes by buying from Native American sellers on the Internet could be hearing soon from the taxman.</p> <p>Under a settlement in the federal appeals court, the Ojibwa Trading Post, a popular online cigarette vendor based in upstate New York, has agreed to report its sales and hand over customer names to authorities every two weeks, effective immediately.</p>

Join the FR smokers lounge bump list...click on the logo Welcome Friends, foes and associates to the completely remodeled Free Republic...Smoker's Lounge Here you will find a comfy place to smoke, drink, joke or whatever. We always have a great time, so sit back, relax and...Smoke 'em if you got 'em shsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshssh aaaaa,:`___________________________||`,:'.",`.;'`,:'.',`: <--------Life is good! A very special thank you to Registered for providing us with this fine logo....we will bear it with pride.

Join the FR smokers lounge bump list...click on the logo Welcome Friends, foes and associates to the completely remodeled Free Republic...Smoker's Lounge Here you will find a comfy place to smoke, drink, joke or whatever. We always have a great time, so sit back, relax and...Smoke 'em if you got 'em shsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshsshshsshsshsshssh shsshsshsshsshsshshsshsshsshshssh aaaaa,:`___________________________||`,:'.",`.;'`,:'.',`: <--------Life is good! A very special thank you to Registered for providing us with this fine logo....we will bear it with pride.

LOOK OUT! SB 1890 will raise all tobacco prices in California. Again. This bill is almost a copy of Prop. 99 with percentages of revenue going to many areas having nothing to do with tobacco. The bill is being pushed as the need for more money to assist medicare with smoking related diseases, so the misguided anti-smoker sheep will be for it. The full text of the bill can be read HERE. (Go into Bill Information, then enter the Bill number, SB 1890, select the bill written by Ortiz. This screen lets you subscribe to this bill so that anytime...