Senate Approves a Plan to Put Restrictions on Cigarette Makers

[gristy]

I like the Senate version. Note they had to call it a "user fee". Not a tax. LOL.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: July 15, 2004

WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved a plan Thursday to put new restrictions on cigarette makers and pay tobacco farmers $12 billion to give up federal quotas propping up their prices.

An unlikely alliance of anti-smoking advocates and tobacco-state senators teamed up to secure the 78-15 vote to combine a 10-year buyout for tobacco growers with new Food and Drug Administration powers.

/snip/

A bill the House passed last month included a smaller $9.6 billion tobacco buyout over five years and no new FDA regulations on manufacturing and marketing cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The Senate would make tobacco companies pay for the buyout through a user fee that could be passed on to smokers. The House would spread the cost of its version to all taxpayers.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Corporate-Taxes.html?hp

[mongo]

1. Why is the FDA involved

They don't regulate alcohol,caffeine,sugar,whoppers or big macs.

This is just another tax that will increase an already substantial black market.