Tobacco settlement fumes

Washington Times ^ | 3/13/02 | Bruce Bartlett

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

A new study from the Council of State Governments raises serious questions about the conflicting goals of the tobacco settlement. According to the report, falling cigarette consumption will cause state revenues from the settlement to come in 20 percent lower than expected. Through 2010, states will get $14 billion less from Big Tobacco than originally projected.

[Uncle Miltie]

Out here in Washington (the state), our legislators are busy securitizing (borrowing against) future tobacco settlement payments in order to fund one year's budget shortfall. In other words, they're selling the future revenue stream to cover the costs of their latest hiring spree during a recession.

Stupid is as stupid does.

[brat]

"It was always about one thing: extorting money from the tobacco industry."...and burdening the already burdened taxpayer with another tax!

[PistolPaknMama]

only 7 percent of settlement funds were in fact used for this purpose

In South Carolina part of these funds may be used to clean up a river from deadfall so that it is more recreation friendly for boaters. Go figure.

[Gnarly]

Have you also noticed that Washington has suffered tax revenue losses since the recent 60 cent a pack tax increase? As predicted by some beforehand, many smokers are going to Oregon or Idaho...or to the reservations.

[Uncle Miltie]

You mean taxes change behavior? Quick, somebody tell the CBO!

[DaBearOne]

I am looking for a bootlegger to buy from. The state can rot.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

What if less than 7% of smokers died from cancer related diseases? What is the tax really for?

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[Gabz]

They wanted the money far more than they wanted healthier citizens. That is why no serious consideration was ever given to banning cigarettes altogether.

One state does have legislation to ban the sale of cigarettes (Iowa or Ohio) in 2024 - the year AFTER the MSA expires. Fat chance that will happen.

Of course once the MSA expires everyone knows the tobacco companies will lower their prices --- NOT.

What this author and so many other fail to realize is that part of the MSA allowed the tobacco companies to pass 100% of their cost on to the customers.

[Max McGarrity]

I am looking for a bootlegger to buy from. The state can rot.

Even a bootlegger can't get them for you as cheap as you can make your own. And they're darn good! Lots of Freepers are making their own at around $8/ctn and telling the states to "go stuff it."

[PistolPaknMama]

Lots of Freepers are making their own

How does one go about doing that?

[DaBearOne]

How do i go about making my own? You have my attention now for sure.

[Max McGarrity]

Kewl! First, check out the Smoke Cheap pages of Smokers United (enter, then click on the link next to Robber Reiner's ugly mug), which will give you some information. There are a couple of machines that work really well to my personal knowledge (Supermatic and Excel Platinum) that "inject" the loose tobacco into pre-made tubes, as well as at least one that rolls and has good reviews particularly from folks who smoke filterless. A good source of tobacco is Fred Stoker, whose free catalog can be had by calling 1-800-CHEWERS. Stoker offers a sampler with several different blends of tobacco for you to find the one best suited to your taste. There's also RYO Magazine available online for your further edification. With a little practice, you can make carton of good cigarettes in a little over an hour, for about $8, with additive-free, virtually tax-free tobacco. And the BEST thing about it is you can thumb your nose at the greedy anti-smoker neurotics and corrupt politicians who won't be taking YOUR money to use against you.