The obligatory "If Congress raises cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1 per pack, will you quit" thread

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Congress may burn big tobacco with tax hike
House, Senate negotiators working on bill to raise federal tax to $1 a pack

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21722383/

updated 7:49 a.m. PT, Sat., Nov. 10, 2007

WASHINGTON - Congress is taking new whacks at the cigarette industry, banning tobacco sales in Senate buildings and — more important — seeking a significant federal tax increase on cigarettes. The industry, once a lobbying behemoth, is quietly working against the tax bill. But it lacks the clout it once wielded.

Several key lawmakers said they have had no recent contacts with tobacco lobbyists. And both houses have signaled a willingness to raise the cigarette tax if other provisions of a children's health bill can be resolved.

"I think the industry has tried to do things more quietly, largely because they obviously know how popular a tobacco tax is," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. The health advocacy group supports a proposed $35 billion increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which a higher cigarette tax would finance.

House and Senate negotiators are trying to craft a veto-proof version of the bill. President Bush has said he would veto it because it calls for a 61 cents-per-pack increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes, which would bring it to $1.

[jaysunb]

1. I vowed I'd quit rather than pay .50 a pack.

That's been quite a few years ago.....Paid $ 7.00 for a pack recently in Vegas...didn't want to leave the machine I was playing. :dunce:

[Binka]

18. Jesus Jay That Must Have Been SOME Machine

Was it giving out blow jobs as well as coin? :evilgrin:

[jaysunb]

24. HaHaHa!!

Weed,wine and pretty women by the dozen to oogle, has a tendency to glue ones ass to a seat. :rofl:

Seriously, if I hadn't been on a roll w/ their money, I'd have walked to the nearest gift shop and paid only $5.95....:evilfrown:

[Toots]

29. I did the same thing only I kept my vow

The day cigarettes reached $.50 a pack in October 1976 I quit. It is the one decision I have made I am most proud of.

[TomInTib]

2. I only smoke 2 or 3 cigarettes per day, so I don't care what they do.

And I am not so naive to believe that a tax hike on tobacco is going to truly benefit sick children.

[Bluebear]

14. Oh I wish I could do that.

I was a bigtime addict, though. 2 or 3 would turn into 20 to 30 in a flash.

[TomInTib]

15. When I want another cig, I just pour a glass of wine instead.

By around 10PM, I am usually too whacked to find a lighter.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. When I started smoking, ciggs were $0.25 per pack

The brand I smoke now is about $6.00.

What do you think I will do?

[jaysunb]

4. We must have started the same year...

but see my post above. LOL !

[SoCalDem]

5. I Threatened to quit if they ever hit $10 a carton

:rofl:

[troubleinwinter]

6. I buy em from the Native American shop here (reservation property), but one can buy em online for

less than $15 per carton/off brands.

Many insist they must have their brand (psychological marketing). You can buy those too, but it's really all the same shit made in the same factories with different packaging.

No taxes through NA online. Why pay $55-$60 when you can easily get them for $13.

[Clark2008]

7. What website is that?

Are these the cigs that don't have all the preservatives in them?

[troubleinwinter]

8. Google Native American cigarettes.

Some sites sell the types you ask about.

[Mnemosyne]

9. I've heard some tales that they are tracking online buyers and

sending them tax bills for their states. Someone here posted last year, iirc, that it happened to them.

[troubleinwinter]

10. I have 'heard' that too.

I only have my own opinion and conversations with many others... no one I know has ever heard from their state wanting to collect taxes on their online cigarette purchases.

I think it's hooey.

[splat]

11. UPS turned over their list in some states

and people who'd bought cigarette online got tax bills.

[Mnemosyne]

28. Apparently it depends on which state you are

buying from.

Wish is was hooey. :hi:

[TahitiNut]

22. It's true. States (like Michigan) have apparently obtained credit card records ...

... and are going after their residents to collect the state taxes due but not collected by the seller. The legal stance is that the buyer is responsible for payment of state sales taxes whether or not the seller is in state or even in country. Michigan even alerted all filers of income tax to include such sales taxes owed in with their income tax returns.

[Mnemosyne]

27. Gawd forbid the gov doesn't obtain maximum tax revenues from

the poorer folks!

I fortunately live within 50 miles of a reservation. I'd rather give my money to those screwed for centuries by the US gov any day!

Thanks for the confirmation Tahiti!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

12. I support SCHIP wholeheartedly, but raising taxes on cigarettes is not the way to go.

It's regressive as all hell and what would happen if too many people quit smoking (or figured out other ways to buy smokes) and they couldn't get the needed revenues? Sure, that would offset some of the costs of healthcare for the smokers themselves (though not as much as people think it would) but that's not directly related to the cost of children's healthcare.

[OzarkDem]

13. Its a ridiculous way to fund health care programs

If we are to put in place quality programs to fund health care, they need to have secure, permanent long term funding.

The SCHIP expansion is one of the worst examples of Dem health care policy in a long time. In a few years they'll be back trying to save it from going under as funds dry up.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. In a few years the Bush tax cuts expire

We need to find a source of revenue between now and then.

[OzarkDem]

26. What about funding health care

for uninsured people who are sick?

[burrowowl]

23. It is rather strange

if cigarettes get too expensive and people quit smoking, where will the funding come from? Lotteries to fund education encourages people to gamble.
I also heard that each gallon of gasoline gives rise to $2 worth of health costs, are we ready to pay that?
Allergies are way up, is the stuff Mansanto, DOW, etc. peddling to grow crops one of the causes, coal power plants (even liquified coal uses water we don't have), etc.
The whole damn system needs changing and NO MORE WAR and YES Single-Payer Health Care!
And make the top 2% pay taxes, damn it!

[RainDog]

16. no. I would just stop buying clothes for my children (snark) n/t

[bigwillq]

17. CNN did a brief segment

that said smoking increased this year after several years of decline. I am trying to find a link.

[TahitiNut]

19. When "progressives" fail to distinguish between a tax and a fine ...

... and treat taxes as punishment or penalty, they've truly lost their minds. There's absolutely NOTHING "progressive" about regressive taxation.

[magellan]

21. Nope. n/t

[johnaries]

25. I'm TRYING to quit now!

Most people don't realize just how addictive they are. I didn't when I started.