Posted on 04/08/2010 11:01:35 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Fourteen states and the District of Columbia raised cigarette taxes in 2009, but none of the new money went to programs to cut smoking and prevent tobacco-related disease, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.
Higher cigarette taxes can substantially curb smoking but states can make an even bigger dent by investing the new funds in programs to help people quit, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
"None of the 15 states dedicated any of the new excise tax revenue by statute to tobacco control," lead author Karen Debrot of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health wrote.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, causing nearly one in five deaths per year, according to the CDC.
All 50 states and Washington, D.C., have cigarettes taxes.
The national average state cigarette tax rose from $1.18 per pack in 2008 to $1.34 per pack in 2009, the CDC said in its weekly report on death and disease.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
But that’s what they planned all along.
When I would point out to one of the adherents that any bar was free to declare itself a non-smoking bar, they would get confused. What was stopping a bar or restaurant owner from doing this voluntarily?
No, the problem is people who make a hobby of using government as a sort of club or bludgeon to enforce their hobby on everyone else. They talk about “choice” and freedom and fairness, but deep down they don’t want any part of it. The economic damage is incalcuble. And in the end (these are temporary measures folks) people will shrug and say “FU” and light up anyway. That’s what happens to law and order and the rule of law when the government itself starts breaking laws — how could anyone expect anything different?
If you say so. I say that ALL conservatives should be concerned that twelve-year-olds are having babies, fifteen-year-olds are shooting one another, seventeen-year-olds dying of AIDS, eighteen-year-olds graduating with diplomas they cannot read, and kids are becoming addicted to cigarettes.
In short it is our business.
Well Said.
Now as a conservative, would you say that there is any human activity outside the government’s bailiwick?
You want to stop Teenage pregnancy?
Mandatory abortions if you’re under 21 and without a job, husband or some other stipulation.
Teenagers with AIDS?
Enforce strict sexual guidelines - mandatory tests for sexual activity with financial penalties on parents for kids who indulge.
15 year olds shooting one another?
BAN GUNS.
18 year olds unable to read?
Keep ‘em in school till they can. More money for schools and teachers.
Utopian, eh?
I take it you aren’t concerned. Oh well.
Here in MA, many had already putting out ashtrays unless you asked and were reluctantly handed one.
I never understood the mania and enthusiams for mandates.
Let each bar decide. I mean, these were bars and nightclubs, the restaurants had had smoking banned a long time prior - like 92 or so.
Canaries, that what smokers were.
Now, everyone will be treated as a smoker!
Dodged my questions, eh?
IS there any human activity that does not fall under the government’s bailiwick?
You gonna answer or just shimmyshammy crawfish all over?
And yes, I do not care. If the solution to the foibles and vagaries of human nature is increased state control, then I go with human nature.
Americans used to consider that liberty and freedom.
Obviously not important enough anymore.
We knew.
Another dodge.
Slippery, aren’t you?
right on.
Any new ,previosly ‘undiscovered’ new ‘revenue source’(tax) just expands into more spending on more crap we don’t need or is not Constitutional (or likely BOTH)
We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.
“However, there is a benefit to the tobacco taxes.”
You sound just like Nancy Skinner, can’t say I’m surprised.
I have no idea who Nancy Skinner is or what she sounds like.
Do a FR search, oh wait, you endorse the government doing you bidding for you, so here goes:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2489038/posts
“Skinner exclaimed. “....What you want in a tax is a tax that changes behavior.”
I’m thrilled the senate voted UNANIMOUSLY to stop cigarettes being sent by US Mail. Conservatives and liberals agree....smokers suck.
No... it isn’t our business!! And when it became our business this country went to the dogs. People minded their own business years ago..and it was a shameful thing to do any of what you listed..now it is a badge of honor!! You can’t legislate morality all you can do is make laws and collect money....it isn’t working is it?
If you say so.
What else do you want to ban??? Fatty foods??
Should I mark you down as “I don’t care” for post # 22?
Why don’t you just answer my question?? Fatty foods are bad for kids.. Just answer the question..
OK...I got you down as “I don’t care”.
Why don’t you answer the question?? Busybodies like you are not conservatives..
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