According to the website stoptheFETincrease.com, state and federal cigarette taxes have been raised an astonishing 73 times since the year 2000, increasing the average price of cigarettes by 80% per pack.
On Wednesday, August 1st, H.R. 3162 which included a $4.50 per carton federal cigarette excise increase was passed by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 225-204. On Thursday, August 2nd, H.R. 976 which included a $6.10 per carton federal cigarette excise tax increase was passed by the US Senate by a vote of 68-31. Smokers know that cigarettes are already one of the most highly taxed products in the country today. In fact, since the year 2000, state and federal cigarette excise taxes have been increased more than 73 times – driving up the average price of cigarettes over 80%.
Everyone should pay their share of taxes, but a federal tax increase on cigarettes is an unfair burden on smokers – especially when these taxes fund a wide-range of expanding government programs that benefit everyone. And as cigarette sales decline it’s an unreliable source of revenue.
Singling out smokers for as much as a 156% increase in the federal cigarette excise tax is going too far – IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO TELL CONGRESS – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
The argument which I find most convincing, but which that website doesn’t make, is that by excessively taxing those things which Congress believes to be wrong – such as cigarettes and alcohol – the government is effectively legislating morality.
You can sign a form letter on this issue, to be sent to your members of Congress, by visiting the website.
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aynrkey
bostonteapartygoer
Kenn Jacobine
mattdharris
Mike Seebeck
Miche
paulie
Jim Davidson
ponggod
Stuart Richards
Todd Andrew Barnett
It is easy to argue that virtually every bill introduced in every legislative body is an attempt to legislate morality or has some moral underpinning.
This is what perverts, liars, extortionists, thieves, and murderers do and that is to create a perfect world by imposing laws upon the rest of us.
I am against the outragous tax on cigarettes. There are other ways to get money. What about taxing alcohol. Both are dangerous to our health but I think I would be safer driving and smoking than driving and drinking. The last I heard it was against the law to drink and drive. Tax the ones breaking the law and leave the smokers alone for awhile. Or would that interfer with our leaders drinking?????
Captive audience. Kind of the same scenario where some shady figure hands you a drug and says “Try this kid..It’ll make you feel good…and its free” Not mentioning all the while that the next one isn’t free and that its addictive and that it’s going to get more expensive when state & federal budgets need more revenue. A breif history of the giant revenue engine that is the tobacco industry/Government can enlighten even the most ignorant that this is a market for addicts that you can tax and tax and tax even more and they still find ways to get the drug. If we used the same bullying tactics on foreign trade partners we would be very much in the black instead of a deficit. It’s not a question of whats good for your health. If this were the case there would be absolutely no illicit drugs entering this country. (altogether another story) Alcohol would be heavily taxed for what it does to families and the public as well if it was a question of the burden it places on public health and safety. Traffic deaths and injuries, Domestic abuse, Teen pregnancy, Child abuse, Rape, Murder, Robbery, and the spread of sexually transmitted disease. are the legacy of alcohol. Yet iits not considered even close to the danger of tobacco. its politically correct to tax smokers now. If there were actual concern, free programs to quit would be embedded in public health programs and covered under all insurances. Yet the drug stores sell nicotine in every form to help you quit. It sounds funny selling a drug that you are addicted to to get you off of it. At $60 a box the chuckles seem to die off fast with this captive audience you sneer at while you label them with contempt in your voice as Smokers.