(CT)State Tax Chief Says Crackdown Coming On Tax Free Cigarettes-Internet Sales Targeted

The Hartford Courant ^ | 14 Mar 02 | Associated Presstitutes

[LoneGOPinCT]

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut's tax commissioner says the state will crack down on tax-free cigarettes sales on the Internet and through the mail, hoping to recover millions of dollars in lost revenue.

"They've thumbed their noses at us," Gene Gavin said. "And they're right, because we don't do anything."

With the state's cigarette tax more than doubling next month, going from 50 cents to $1.11 a pack on April 3, Gavin said no is the time to act.

[SheLion]

"Smokers are a small and shrinking pool of residents - and a shrinking pool of voters"

ahhh, I don't think this is true. There are so many reports out there: smoking is down, smoking is up, smoking hold steady. They really don't know!

I believe it's holding steady at 55 million. I "knew" that when cigarettes laid on the shelves longer, then "they" would contribute it to people not smoking. This just isn't true.

We are just finding other ways.

[SheLion]

It IS legalized theft! When smoker's are taxed to death to carry the weight of the state, something has to give!

Most states have a Partners for a Tobacoo Free Everything, yet they want our money. Like I said: they can't have both!

[LoneGOPinCT]

Done!

We've got family ties to Maine so I try to keep an eye on it myself.

[brewcrew]

forcing drinkers and smokers to pay for government that supposedly benefits EVERYBODY is legalized theft

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's support.

[Still Thinking]

Gavin said his office is working with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to begin enforcing a federal law that requires mail and Internet companies to provide a monthly lists of their customers. State tax officials will use those lists to locate scofflaws, Gavin said.

What would keep the internet retailers from providing the state with a non alphabetized list of all 250+ million residents of the US, "just to make sure they hadn't overlooked anyone". Such a list would be useless to the anti-rights money grabbers, but might technically comply with the Federal law.

[LoneGOPinCT]

What would keep the internet retailers from providing the state with a non alphabetized list of all 250+ million residents of the US, "just to make sure they hadn't overlooked anyone". Such a list would be useless to the anti-rights money grabbers, but might technically comply with the Federal law.

Lack of gumption on the part of the retailers. I'm not sure I put much faith in them to stand on principle. But who knows, they may prove me wrong.

[Max McGarrity]

How do they get around the Supreme Court ruling that said they can't do this? What? they don't know about the SC ruling? Imagine that.

Super article by Jeff Jacoby called No Internet Taxes? No Problem.

[Great Dane]

Time for all to grow their own, taking all taxes out of the equation.

[Great Dane]

does this even surprise you anymore?

No, we have been saying this all along........ it's the, "And then they came for me thing."

[Great Dane]

I believe it's holding steady at 55 million.

And if you take children out of the equation of the voting poll, 55 mill is quite a chunk of voters.