Congress Seeks Major Federal Tax Increase On Cigarettes

[babylonsister]

Congress Aims to Extinguish Cigarettes


CHARLES BABINGTON | November 10, 2007 10:04 AM EST | AP

WASHINGTON — Congress is taking new whacks at the cigarette industry, banning tobacco sales in Senate buildings and _ more importantly _ seeking a significant federal tax increase on cigarettes.

The industry, once a lobbying behemoth, is quietly working against the tax bill. But it lacks the clout it once wielded.

Several key lawmakers said they have had no recent contacts with tobacco lobbyists. And both houses have signaled a willingness to raise the cigarette tax if other provisions of a children's health bill can be resolved.

"I think the industry has tried to do things more quietly, largely because they obviously know how popular a tobacco tax is," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. The health advocacy group supports a proposed $35 billion increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which a higher cigarette tax would finance.

House and Senate negotiators are trying to craft a veto-proof version of the bill. President Bush says he would veto it because it calls for a 61 cents-per-pack increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes, taking it to $1.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071110/tobacco-tax/

[bbgrunt]

1. ...such a compelling issue--NOT!!

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

2. Roll your own,folks,roll your own.

[MNDemNY]

3. They should raise it further...

and this is coming from a NYC smoker who already pays $7.50 a pack.

[bbgrunt]

4. I'd rather see impeachment.

[MNDemNY]

5. Me too, but butts should be

taxed more realistically so as to reflect their cost to society.

[TahitiNut]

6. If cigarettes were "taxed more realistically so as to reflect their cost to society" ...

... then the last 12 years of tax increases would be repealed, since the taxes have long ago exceeded those "costs."

[bbinacan]

7. This is such bullshit

Next they'll being raising taxes on ice cream. Then desserts, etc.:mad: :smoke: