This is sickening.
Posted on 04/11/2006 1:24:59 PM PDT by SheLion
A House subcommittee passed two bills Thursday morning that would increase the state's cigarette tax.
Kelly Davis is a spokeswoman for South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative. Davis says the increase would help stomp out youth smoking, "A cigarette tax increase will first and foremost prevent thousands of young people from smoking, and current smokers to kick the habit."
One proposal would raise the tax by 32 cents with money earmarked for expanding Medicaid programs for low-income children.
The second proposal raises the tax by 30 cents, creating a trust fund that lawmakers would decide how to spend. It also would come with a corresponding reduction in state income taxes.
The bills now heads to the full House Ways and Means Committee, but it's already come farther than ever before, according to Davis, "It's really a historic victory. It's the first time free-standing cigarette tax bills have passed out of the subcommittee."
Similar legislation has previously failed on the Senate floor and in the full Ways and Means Committee.
South Carolina's seven-cents-a-pack tax is the lowest in the nation. Right now, the nationwide average price for a pack of smokes is about $4.12, meaning if you have a pack a day habit, you could spend nearly $50 or more a month.
25-30% of South Carolina's smoke, and now they have to carry the weight of the state budget.
"creating a trust fund that lawmakers would decide how to spend."
And I am SURE they will know what pet programs they want to spend it on, too!
This is sickening.
Ah, yes, make the smokers pay for it.
Got a pet pork project? Heck YES we got the money!
New Jersey taxes go up again this June for us polluters.
Increasing the tax burden to "Help" the payee. Yeah, right. (You know, politician's mothers should really have strangled them at birth.)
Here's what I'm doing: I bought a cheap, dorm sized refrigerator, a good quality cigarette rolling machine, a big, big box of filter tubes, and am filling the refrigerator with boxes and bags of high quality tobacco. (Taxes are minimal on bulk, internet tobacco at the present time.)
I plan to recoup my investment by selling product to friends and coworkers at about $10.00 per pack. (Make great Christmas presents.) Grandpa was a bootlegger so I come by it honestly.
By the time I'm finished with my "stash," organized crime will have established its black market cigarette operation along Prohibition lines. If people want to smoke, they're going to smoke.
I would have quit years ago if it weren't for the collation of "superior anuses" telling me I HAD TO. Lordy, how I hate social engineering. (I've already outlived a lot of those wise dickie birds too.)
I am a South Carolinian and just recently quit smoking. But this is a ridiculous tax. Just another example of blood thirsty revenue hogs. Why don't they tax alcohol more heavily? Or fast food? Or large vehicles? Or motorcycles? Or just about any damn thing else where they can make an excuse for.
It drives me up the wall that they act like they are doing society a favor. But is any of this money going to smoking cessation programs. Of course not. I think there should be a deceitful politician tax.
Makes me sick! A trust fund so they can decide how to spend it! What gall!
Amen to all of the above!
I am so sick and tired of these damn politicians. And they aren't even embarrassed about setting up a pot for themselves. Big fat idiots!
Thanks for the ping!
Here is how much South Carolina smokers already pay into the state economy:
Number of six-packs of beer that must be sold in South Carolina to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 1.6
Number of bottles of wine that must be sold in South Carolina to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 3.3
| Smokers Pay Excise Taxes2 | $ | 26,350,424 |
| Smokers Pay Sales Taxes2 | $ | 61,245,850 |
| Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments3 | $ | 84,085,377 |
| $ | 171,681,651 |
..."I think there should be a deceitful politician tax."
Now that would be a money maker and we, whom they serve, would have to figure out how to spend it - all of it and more so we could tax them more.
For those who missed this:
House Judiciary approves restaurant smoking ban bill
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Smoking would be banned in South Carolina restaurants under a bill that is headed to the House floor.
The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the legislation that bans smoking in all restaurant, bar, lounge and recreational facilities. The committee agreed to exceptions for cigar bars and private clubs, such as the American Legion.
The bill no longer has the criminal penalties it had when it came out of a subcommittee.
State Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, said the bill was about clean air and protecting the public, but some on the committee said it would put the state on a course to ban smoking in other places.
The proposal moves to the House floor.
Perfect! Sounds good to me!!
What was the date on that?
 People Ban: SC Hilton HeadLocal legislators agree that banning smoking in private establishments is a business decision, not a governmental one. |
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| Another Ban Failed: SC NO Ban for Florence City Florence City Update |
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My great grandmother was, too ;-)
I like your plan, in the greatest tradition of entrepeneurship.
Good luck, and I hope you get rich!
I am from South Carolina and I think it is a great bill. I am for any bill that makes it harder for children to smoke cigarettes.
Only parents can make it harder for children to smoke cigarettes. Would you like the state to take over parenting also?
Fooor the Chiiiiiildren!
Always the last refuge of a scoundrel with an agenda!
Apr. 04, 2006
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