Mar 15 2009
The cigarette tax increase was on the federal level
You guys probably remember a post I did a few days ago about the cigarette tax hike which caused cartons to go up about $7 each. Well I found out this week through talking with Governor Mark Sanford’s office that there has been no tax increases on the local level. The only tax increase going into effect is the Federal that calls for an additional .63 cent per pack. It was told to me that our South Carolina Governor does not plan on passing any of the tax increase bills in the house and senate that deals with increasing taxes on tobacco. At least someone is trying to cut us some slack in this horrible economic time.
If a cigarette tax hike results in fewer cigarettes bought and smoked — which evidence shows to be true — then there are additional benefits to S. Carolinians: health improvement of the public and less money spent treating cases of lung cancer, etc.
Non-smokers who (like everyone else indirectly paying for smokers’ health care treatment) don’t feel too much sympathy for you all who gripe about cigarette taxes. Just smoke less. You’ll be doing yourself some good and the rest of us some good.
Well HM, most smokers who understand that health to others is an issue, have no problem with not smoking in public places. With that said, going up on taxes should be across the board.
Why did they not raise taxes on other things such as alcohol, junk food, sodas, energy drinks, ect…. These things have been proven to be an even bigger burden on states nation wide.
For years I have said that, to be fair, if the states are going to pass a sin tax, it should also be on alcoholic beverages also. I have never seen a family of five killed by a pack of Marlboro’s but I have seen them killed by a 20 pack of Bud. If liberals want money for their health programs add a buck to a can of beer, five bucks to a bottle of wine and twenty bucks to a bottle of whisky. Wait. . .that won’t work. They don’t smoke anymore but they do drink. What was I thinking?
I applaud Mr. Hilbert
Well put and I agree 100%.
I propose a washingtom cigarette party where we fill the reflection pool with cigarette butts. I am an ex smoker but I feel that making only one part of society pay for something they have nothing to do with is totally wrong. If the money was to be spent on providing health care to smokers so they dont burden non-smokers then tax away but using a now minority to provide for the majority is wrong on all levels. The argument that smokers are costing non-smokers more for health care has always been full of holes as many have already pointed out. I say tax luxury health services like plastic surgery and other non essential care since obviously cost is no issue to those people.