Posted on 05/05/2005 6:20:00 AM PDT by SheLion
I wonder if Virginia can sue the other states for loss of revenue because they are not selling as much as they used to.
Becki
Except for tobacco excise taxes which are covered by the 1954 Jenkins act - which is what they are resurrecting to justify these confiscatory practices.
I remember they passed an extension of the sales tax ban.
So states could impose/extend their sales tax on internet purchases delivered to them.
The states were successful in bulying some pure etailers Amazon. (there were able to nail those with physical locations in the state)
They soon discovered they can push the out of jurisdiction seller so now they do the Sherrif of Nottingham routine on their own citizens.
Well, here is one alternative:
Can't stand the high taxes?
Afraid to order off of the Internet?
Then start rolling your own!!!
I roll out a beautiful carton for a little under $8 dollars. Premiums in my state are now up to $45-$50 a carton. Can you imagine the money I have saved over the past 4 years since I now roll my own? It's mind boggling.
under $50.00
$5.75 a bag
$1.99 for 200 filtered tubes
and
Michigan is in deep financial trouble, and its answer to lack of money is to tax more and apply more regulations. Pursuing smokers for taxes is merely one sign of its desperation.
Michigan ranked dead last in creating new jobs in 2004, losing 45,000, and is near the bottom in income growth.
Our socialist loving governor, Jennifer Granholm, is pressing ahead with a European style tax boondoggle that will heap huge tax breaks on the big three automakers, while passing extra taxes onto retailers, professional services, wholesalers and thousands of small businesses.
The state has the highest corporate tax burden in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation.
The City of Detroit lost more young people age 18 to 30 than any other city in the nation.
Gov Granola also wants to impose a Marxist state land use regime on all land and businesses. It chief feature is unelected soviet councils making all land use decisions.
If you want to see what America would be like under Hillary, look at Michigan.
I'm seriously considering pulling my family and business out of Michigan.
With millions of 'illegals' working under the table the use of limited state tax enforcement resources will be going to sniffing around internet sales.
Does the internet exemption SPECIFICALLY mention tobacco?
It seems, if not, this is a conflict of law issue where the new blanket exmption would cover that. In the past the courts would say "if the legislator wanted to exempt 'x' they would have exempted'x' in the new law."
It is far easier to punish a law abiding citizen than track down a difficult to find illegal.
The law is lazy.
Big Pharm also hopes that by raising cigarette taxes so high, it will force people to quit therefore start buying Big Pharm Quit Smoking Remedies. Oh yes! Did we see this coming?
Carton of cigarettes in Maine: $45-$50
Supply of Nicorette Gum: $49.99
<----click on image
100%??? Oh, wait, it must be legal cos the state is doing it, right? I am darn tired of balancing this state's budget! I say we turn Detroit over to the Indians, cut the UP loose (they've wanted to be Wisconsin for decades) and sell some real estate on Mackinac Island. Oh, and a new govenor would help!
Hate the sin, tax the sinner.
I don't believe so.......but remember the internet exemption is in reference to SALES taxes not excise taxes - the Jenkins Act is specific to tobacco EXCISE taxes. sdo unfortunately I don't see a conflict in the laws.
It was largely ignored for decades, until states starting balancing their budgets on the backs of smokers and smokers started seeking less expensive means of purchase. Now all of a sudden everyone has remembered the long forgotten law.
You would rather pay $2 trillion in hidden and embedded taxes with their attendant abuses of power like this? Or would you rahter SEE exaclty how much you are paying to the government EVERY time you buy something?
Keep it civil. I haven't made any derrogatory remarks about you.
Yet.
I do believe that what this state is doing is illegal. I don't think these people have to pay this tax as their purchase was made outside the state even though it was made on the internet. They need to fight this instead of giving in like so many wimps. I don't smoke but if I did I would fight this to the death before paying a tax on cigs bought out of state.
And Big Pharm is equally complicit in funding the terrorists that are targetting our men and women in the service in their push for higher tobacco taxes.
Seeking more taxes is akin to saying
executions will continue until moral improves.
If I recall correctly, the city of detroit had a problem with people who simply abandoned realestate because it had no value.
Unfortunately, it's not.
I do believe that what this state is doing is illegal. I don't think these people have to pay this tax as their purchase was made outside the state even though it was made on the internet. They need to fight this instead of giving in like so many wimps. I don't smoke but if I did I would fight this to the death before paying a tax on cigs bought out of state.
Here are more threads about some states going after online taxes for tobacco products"
Internet Cigarette Sales Spark Enforcement Meeting, Possible Crackdown
NYC:New York Hits Online Sellers of Cigarettes
Smokers asked to cough up taxes for Web buys
I don't know which is scarier:
1) That a state government is tracking your internet purchases.
2) That a woman would willingly have the name "Sidebottom".
or 3) That a woman named Sidebottom would be letting her Alzheimer-patient boyfriend smoke (not for health reasons but for fire safety sake).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.