Posted on 10/07/2011 8:34:01 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A Maryland health advocate who fought successfully this year for an increase in the state’s alcohol sales tax is pushing for a tax increase on cigarettes.
Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, says the group will start a campaign next week asking the General Assembly to increase the state’s $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes to $3 and raise taxes on other tobacco products, including cigars and smokeless tobacco.
Mr. DeMarco — a health lobbyist who has long championed so-called “sin taxes” on tobacco and alcohol — hopes to build on momentum from this year’s assembly, in which legislators voted to increase the state’s alcohol sales tax from 6 percent to 9 percent after several years of lobbying.
“It’s a great public-health measure. Our goal would be that all smokers would stop smoking,” he said Thursday, adding that more than 100 community groups already have backed the tobacco-tax proposal. “Many smokers appreciate increases in the tobacco tax to help them quit.”
Maryland taxed smokers just 36 cents a pack on cigarettes before 1999, when the rate was increased to 66 cents. A second increase moved the rate to $1 in 2002, and state lawmakers again raised the tax, to $2 a pack, during their 2007 special session.
The state’s $2 rate on cigarettes is tied for 11th highest in the country, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. The District tax is $2.50 a pack, while Pennsylvania and Delaware charge $1.60 and Virginia charges 30 cents — the second-lowest rate in the country behind Missouri’s 17 cents.
New York has the highest tax rate on cigarettes at $4.35 a pack.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
What will happen is what happens in every state (New York) who raise taxes on cigarettes, which is more cigarettes will be sold black market and the state will lose a ton of taxation.
Thanks for the ping!
Maybe not. Some states are seeing their tobacco tax revenue declining because smokers are buying their cigs elsewhere.
Who knew?
Yea, I think you're right. Imagine the BATF toys that will eventually fund. They will arrive at the address on individual jet packs and eventually retire with benefits at 32 years old.
Yes, uncouth.
True dat.
According to YOU!
I quit smoking (cold turkey, btw) when my 15 year 2-3 packs a day (to the filter) habit met the "I ran out again" moment.
Tax levels and the personal cost had NOTHING to do with my quitting.
I usually kept at least a couple of packs in my glovebox, and there was always a carton in the freezer at home. I don't doubt there was more going on in my head than I'll admit to here, but there was no serious "I'm gonna quit!" moment, I just said to myself "Well, that's it then, isn't it?"
I suppose it was an anti-socialIST reaction, since I felt nothing but pragmatism when I realized that my pocket, locker at work, AND the glovebox in my car ALL were devoid of cigarettes.
It's not like I couldn't find anywhere to sell me smokes, I just decided that enough was enough.
FOr those who have trouble quitting, or don't want to quit, I simply say they should do what THEY want to, and to the Devil with their opponents!
I remember when cigarettes in Maryland were 25 cents a pack, but we grew tobacco there, then.
$100 would surely do the trick.
F**k the anti smoking nazi bass turds. I quit smoking 6 years ago because I had a health scare but if that hadn’t happened I’d still be smoking because I was SOOO freaking addicted, and I would just go broke. And still smoke. But it’s not fair that someone should go BROKE just because other people, who happen to have POWER over taking other people’s money decide to target me for buying something I enjoy/need to do. Dang this just makes me so mad probably cuz I’m just off the heels of reading an article about Cook county property taxes, but yeah. They need to keep their hands out of other people’s pockets!
For the record, I had never smoked at all, but I don’t like what is going on imho.. Two words slippery slope..
Lucky for DeMarco that Maryland doesn’t pass a Self-Righteous A-hole Tax, or he’d be bankrupt overnight.
The hypocrisy continues to astonish me.
They are often hurting the vulnerable. I was in a convenience store right after MA raised the cig taxes.
This store happens to be near a community living residence for people with difficulties.
A resident of the home came in for cigs and cried when he heard the price.He didn’t have enough money.
I bought him his cigarettes.
Not the vulnerable!!!! Smokers often play the victim card. It's such a conservative value.
“Smokers often play the victim card. It’s such a conservative value. “
? ? ? ?
Come back and let me know when something else is taxed at over 1,000% of what it takes to manufacture the product.
How did you feel after you quit? Jittery and irritable and all that? Or nothing? I ask because my dad up and quit smoking one day — he smoked Camel non filters — and said he felt absolutely no different. The only effect was that he missed the pleasure of smoking. But all the expected nicotine withdrawal turned out to be a big nothingburger.
Bastards!!!
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