I was wondering when you would see this. Isn't this sickening? What kind of people run that state!
Don't tell me, I already know! ugh!
Posted on 05/28/2005 9:42:26 AM PDT by SheLion
A coalition of religious and community groups will launch a drive today to put universal healthcare on the 2006 state ballot, in a proposal that would raise the cigarette tax to buy coverage for more people and would require all but the smallest Massachusetts businesses to cover their workers.
The latest on punitive action against smokers in Massachusetts for your information and dissemination:
"A coalition of religious and community groups will launch a drive today to put universal healthcare on the 2006 state ballot, in a proposal that would raise the cigarette tax to buy coverage for more people and would require all but the smallest Massachusetts businesses to cover their workers.. Under [Uxbridge Democrat state Sen. Richard] Moore's similar proposal, the state would add 50 cents to the $1.51 per pack cigarette tax, a move that might raise as much as $150 million a year.
Much of that money would be used to expand MassHealth, the Bay State's Medicaid program.... Nevertheless, the leaders of the healthcare campaign say there is a moral and religious imperative to make sure that every citizen is covered. Eddly Benoit, a church elder at Dorchester's Temple Salem Seventh Day Adventist Church, said that up to a fourth of the members of that congregation lack health insurance."
The general non-smoking public have no idea how much smoker's are being hit upon to balance budgets and pay for all the state's pet programs.
It's time everyone becomes aware of what the lawmakers are doing to a minority of people just because they choose to buy a legal commodity.
The state screams they want smoke free, but see where they go when they need (more) money? The smokers.
I am so irate over this. Enough is enough.
I know nothing about plants, agriculture, etc. But from what I've seen tobacco looks like it would need to be grown outside, you couldn't grow it in a pot, like marijuanna for example.
And I wonder if a person DID grow tobacco for their own use if that would be considered a violation of some law, or tax statute.
My grandfather brewed his own beer during prohibition, that I do know.
Well, that sounds great for the people in Tenn! Sounds like a program other states should look into. (If I am reading it right). :)
I know that you are only allowed so much in an outdoor plot. You can't have acres and acres of it growing. There is a limit.
But the drying and curing, I just don't have the time for.
OH MY GOD! I'M MAD AS HELL AND I WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE IDIOTS?
(Sorry for yelling but I can't control myself)
And this is from "The Big Dig" state---what a joke!
You are correct that tobacco needs to be grown outside, although it can be started indoors and transplanted. However it can be grown in pots.
It is not illegal to grown tobacco for one's own use, although it is limited to the amount you can grow on a 1/10 of an acre plot.
I was wondering when you would see this. Isn't this sickening? What kind of people run that state!
Don't tell me, I already know! ugh!
"Much of that money would be used to expand MassHealth, the Bay State's Medicaid program.... "
I know what you mean. And no matter what we say, they are going to do what they want to do, regardless.
I don't trust Hitlery one bit!
What would they do if there weren't any smokers? Just goes to show that NO ONE wants smokers to quit.
And there is another hole in their logic. They are trying to say that only poor people smoke. Well, they can't get blood out of a turnip. So why are they targeting smokers to pay the whole lump sum?
They talk out of both sides of their mouths.
Just one thing they forgot-THE MONEY.
So, it has existed as an unfunded "goal" for 17 years.
Exactly. And I want everyone to know this!
The lawmakers scream they want a smoke free everything, yet they can't live without the cigarette tax dollars. Well, they can't have both!
How can they have smoke free and yet still target people who smoke a legal commodity when they know they can't get the money somewhere else. This has to stop.
~sigh
Well I have a way not to pay the ridiculous state taxes----and it's legal.(My lips are sealed)
They will never get one cent from me again.
Between making spies out of delivery companies and not letting anyone use credit cards for internet sales they are going too far.
If the taxes were as low as the tax on other consumer goods I would pay them,but they've overstepped themselves and now they get nothing.
"The state's highest court yesterday rejected a long-shot request by a Roman Catholic group to put on hold the landmark decision legalizing gay marriage until at least November 2006, when a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex weddings may go before Massachusetts voters."
As I am sure you know, there is a very real problem with the way the States are counting on the tobacco $$.
Smoking is down, and of course, with that revenues. Kids who are on the bubble (part time smokers) can't afford $10.00 a pack, or the fun isn't worth it. Raising taxes on smoking has an inverse affect as people go to other sources (MA is quite small and the Internet is quite large and there are border states would would love the simple sales tax revenue from upset Mass'ers).
Eventually, the Goose will be barren and they will be screwed, big time.
Sin taxes don't work. But it is for the intellectually lazy and impaired politicians (and electorate) such as we find in MA.
Me too!
They will never get one cent from me again.
Me either!
Between making spies out of delivery companies and not letting anyone use credit cards for internet sales they are going too far.
If the taxes were as low as the tax on other consumer goods I would pay them,but they've overstepped themselves and now they get nothing.
Exactly. They turned into gluttons and they think we can't see it.
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