Governor Daniels confident he can pull Indiana out of budget deficit(Rino barf alert)

wndu.com ^ | 1 10 06 | wndu.com

[freepatriot32]

Governor Daniels says cost-cutting steps will have Indiana poised to eliminate a $600 million deficit by June.

During his Wednesday night State of the State Address, Daniels said, "The first steps of any race are critical. Our first steps have been fast ones."

Governor Daniels' first year in office brought dramatic change and this year is shaping up to be the same.

As expected, Daniels sought support for his plan to raise money for highway construction by selling or leasing the Indiana Toll Road.

“If big private firms are willing to offer Indiana a very large sum of money today, for the right to operate our northern toll road over time, we would be foolish not to seize that opportunity and make the dreams of decades a reality in our time," said Daniels.

Daniels also urged lawmakers to give local governments power to consolidate and use new ways of raising money. That plan includes transferring the state's township tax assessment system to county assessors.

According to Daniels, “If the machinery of state government needs an overhaul, then our local government needs an extreme makeover."

Scoring big points with educators, Daniels pledged to shift more money to the classroom, and find other places to cut costs in schools.

Daniels said, “It's time to make sure more of our school dollars are available to teachers and the purposes that matter most. Let's catch up and pass other states in the efficiency of school spending."

Perhaps the biggest surprise in Wednesday night's speech: an increased tax on cigarettes. Daniels urged the legislature to raise the cigarette tax by $.25 a pack.

“It’s no accident that we have some of the highest health care costs anywhere, a barrier in the way of new jobs we seek. No single step we could take would matter more than reducing the number of Hoosiers, particularly young Hoosiers, who smoke cigarettes," said Daniels.

He added, "All the evidence shows that the most effective way to deter young smokers is at the cash register."

The Daniels administration says a cigarette tax increase of $.25 per pack would raise about $120 million a year.

[freepatriot32]

is it any suprise this rino workled in the bush administration before he slimed his way into indiana government keep voting republican folks because they are sooooo much different then the tax and spend nanny state democrats yep dont throw your vote away on libertarians or any other third party oh yeah by the way this rino also supports his masters guest worker program Indiana Gov. Daniels backs Bush guest worker proposal

[freepatriot32]

ping

[beltfed308]

“It’s no accident that we have some of the highest health care costs anywhere, a barrier in the way of new jobs we seek. No single step we could take would matter more than reducing the number of Hoosiers, particularly young Hoosiers, who smoke cigarettes," said Daniels. He added, "All the evidence shows that the most effective way to deter young smokers is at the cash register." The Daniels administration says a cigarette tax increase of $.25 per pack would raise about $120 million a year. Pingaroo

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message he

[beltfed308]

I don't know about anyone else but I have had my fill of these jerks!

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

He added, "All the evidence shows that the most effective way to deter young smokers is at the cash register." The Daniels administration says a cigarette tax increase of $.25 per pack would raise about $120 million a year.

So, he wants to raise the cigarette tax to discourage smoking, but he still expects to raise the $120 million? Uh-huh. You know, he ought to look across the border into Illinois and see how honest the politicians are (and this is probably one of the few things they are honest about) when it comes to raising cigarette taxes. They don't even talk about health concerns anymore; the tax increase is sold simply as a quick fix for budget woes.

[freepatriot32]

indiana ping list ping

[SheLion]

Tax increase?  Read just how much the Indiana smokers are contributing to the state economy NOW just by paying the taxes on cigarettes!  Why are only 25-30% of the people doomed to carry the weight of the state budget time after time just because they choose to smoke a LEGAL product???!!!!

Indiana Information

Tobacco Taxes 

Indiana's excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.555
Indiana's excise tax collection for the
fiscal year ending June 2002: $114,757,000

Sales tax on tobacco products: 6.00%

Federal excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.39
Total federal excise tax collections in fiscal year 2002: $7,512,700,000 

Comparing Excise Taxes on Cigarettes, Beer and Wine

Number of six-packs of beer that must be sold in Indiana to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 85.8

Number of bottles of wine that must be sold in Indiana to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 59.6

Indiana Smokers' Contributions to the State Economy - FY2004

In 2003, Indiana smokers comprised only 26.1% of the adult population in the state. Here is what they already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:
Smokers Pay Excise Taxes $335,915,000
Smokers Pay Sales Taxes $125,116,000
Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments $126,600,000
$587,631,000

Smokers' Economic/Tax Profile 2003
Income
Indiana smokers' median household income $33,135
Indiana nonsmokers' median household income $44,086
Working families pay more
36% of Indiana smokers had household incomes LESS THAN $25,000
11% of Indiana smokers had household incomes EQUAL TO or GREATER THAN $75,000

The impact of smoker payments on the incomes of working families was more than THREE TIMES the impact on higher income smokers. Those who can afford it least pay a disproportionate percentage of their hard-earned income in smoker payments. 
Smoker excise tax/sales tax/tobacco settlement payments liability in FY2004
Total average paid per Indiana smoker in excise and sales taxes $392
Cost per Indiana smoker for settlement payments to Indiana $108
Total annual payments to Indiana per smoker $500
Total annual payments to Indiana per nonsmoker $0

[SheLion]

So, he wants to raise the cigarette tax to discourage smoking, but he still expects to raise the $120 million? Uh-huh. You know, he ought to look across the border into Illinois and see how honest the politicians are (and this is probably one of the few things they are honest about) when it comes to raising cigarette taxes. They don't even talk about health concerns anymore; the tax increase is sold simply as a quick fix for budget woes.

He is talking out of BOTH sides of his mouth!  He wants a smoke free everything BUT HE CAN'T BALANCE HIS STATE BUDGET WITHOUT STICKING IT TO THE SMOKERS AGAIN!

And this is even his own constituents who choose to smoke.  Smokers are damn tired of carrying the weight of the state on their shoulders over and over.  This is ridiculous!

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

He is talking out of BOTH sides of his mouth! He wants a smoke free everything BUT HE CAN'T BALANCE HIS STATE BUDGET WITHOUT STICKING IT TO THE SMOKERS AGAIN!

Exactly. And that's why he should get more brazen, like Illinois politicians, and call a spade a spade. They know that at lot of people will continue to smoke, and they've gotten used to doing it outside, so I think a lot of the "health talk" is just...blowing smoke.

Plus, it occurred to me that maybe Daniels is looking across the border and seeing something -- all the Illinoisans who patronize Indiana gas stations, convenience stores, and tobacco shops. He knows we're going to keep going there, even if he raises taxes, because it's still a better deal for us than to do business in Illinois.

There isn't a functioning gas station or convenience store (except those that do a liquor/deli business) for miles around my neighborhood in Chicago, which is right on the Indiana line. There are few large grocery stores. And I'm convinced that it's the tax disparity between Illinois/Cook County/Chicago, and Indiana that destroyed business in my part of town. That's not Indiana's fault, of course, but the fault of the rotten, corrupt, greedy "leaders" on my side of the line.

[Earthdweller]

Pinging the list for a discussion about smoking and Indiana taxes...enter if you dare.

If you would like on or off the Indiana Ping list please send me a FReepmail.

[AFreeBird]

In 2003, Indiana smokers comprised only 26.1% of the adult population in the state. Here is what they already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:

Smokers Pay Excise Taxes $335,915,000
Smokers Pay Sales Taxes $125,116,000
Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments $126,600,000
Total: $587,631,000

Let lets assume that the purely altruistic reasons for raising all these taxes is to stop people smoking, and that they are successful.

What will these politicos target next to make them feel smug and superior AND RAISE ALL THOSE HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of DOLLARS!?

Hopefully it will be something I don't care much about, but something that I can ram down the throats of those pius, smug anti's.

[Abathar]

Reporting as ordered - SIR!

I have to agree with the original poster, call it what it is, a tax increase. Why even bother hiding behind the skirt of health concerns unless you actually plan on doing something about it. Old smokers will just keep puffing away and younger smokers will cough up an extra gumball for a pack.

[hispanichoosier]

I don't give a fig about smokers paying more per pack. It's a consumption-based tax and totally voluntary. Next time, are you gonna complain about the higher price of Hoosier Lottery scratch-off tickets?

[hispanichoosier]

I have to agree with the original poster, call it what it is, a tax increase.

You could also look at it another way: a voluntary consumption tax. Don't wanna pay the taxes? Fine. You can avoid it by quitting smoking.

[hispanichoosier]

Smokers are damn tired of carrying the weight of the state on their shoulders over and over.

Well, smokers can stop paying this voluntary tax by stopping smoking. It's a consumption-based tax which is totally in the control of the payer.

[sinkspur]

You could also look at it another way: a voluntary consumption tax. Don't wanna pay the taxes? Fine. You can avoid it by quitting smoking.

Yep. Nobody's twisting anybody's arm to smoke.

[sinkspur]

Smokers are damn tired of carrying the weight of the state on their shoulders over and over.

You can do one of two things:

Quit smoking.

Quit bitching.

[SheLion]

You can do one of two things:

Quit smoking.

Quit bitching.

Guess what sweet cheeks?  I have been rolling my own for over 4 years.  I save over $300 dollars a month.  The state coffers be damned.

And I do wish all smokers could roll their own or quit.  Then our wonderful lawmakers would have to drain YOUR wallet to make up for the loss of revenue.  How about it!

And YOU can quit bitching about OUR BITCHING.  Freedom of speech and all that!

[SheLion]

Well, smokers can stop paying this voluntary tax by stopping smoking. It's a consumption-based tax which is totally in the control of the payer.

I repeat:

I have been rolling my own for over 4 years.  I save over $300 dollars a month.  The state coffers be damned.

And I do wish all smokers could roll their own or quit.  Then our wonderful lawmakers would have to drain YOUR wallet to make up for the loss of revenue.  How about it!

Well, here is one alternative:

Can't stand the high taxes?

Afraid to order off of the Internet?

Then start rolling your own!!! I find everything but the machine downtown at the local Smoke Shop.  Also, Rite Aid and grocery stores also sell the bags of tobacco and the filtered tubes.

I roll out a beautiful carton for a little under $8 dollars.  Premiums in my state are now up to $45-$50 a carton.  Can you imagine the money I have saved over the past 4 years since I now roll my own?  It's mind boggling.

under $50.00

Check StuffYourOwn for prices on tobacco

$1.99 for 200 filtered tubes

and

Smokers United

Roll Your Own Tobacco Store

Roll Your Own Magazine