New Cigar Tax

[TexaSmoke]

Let's make the phone calls anyway and not get complacent. Bush isn't vetoing it 'cause of the cigar tax, and I wouldn't count on promises from ANY politician.

I couldn't agree more. Make the call or email whichever you prefer, just don't have the wait and see attitude.

 

[TexaSmoke]

More spending by the democrats means raise taxes. It's the only thing they know how to do. They don't have the common sense to cut spending from the many other pointless endeavors of government to cover another proposed pointless endeavor.

What's kind of funny about this concept (though it is true about dems wanting the raise taxes and spend more) is that when we've cut taxes we spur economic growth which has cause the US Treasury to pull in more cash than it has ever seen before. (Simple theory of equilibrium) In fact even pharoh knew that if he taxes his people more than about 10% that his economy suffered. hmmm...you would think that this would be common sense.

Oh ya, I forgot, its not about doing what is best for the country, its about sounding good. So let continue to use the phrase "Raising tax on the rich"

 

[Broadway Joe]

I have been reading on digg that if this bill does pass the senate, the president is going to veto it.

I'm not to worried about it. If it passes, it looks like our out of country friends will be getting more cigar business. Right now they are making a mint on CC's that are being sold to US citizens, image if they can corner the entire cigar market and offer CC's and NC's for prices that are unheard of here in the States.

I hope that it does get vetoed. I can't see a crazy tax like that being imposed. I find it hard to believe that if it was a significant threat, that none of the head guys in the cigar industry have raised awareness any earlier than now. My feeling is that if it was a serious threat, we would have heard about it much earlier and there would have been petitions and emails/letters going around. --I'll just keep my fingers crossed in the meantime--

THE GOVERMENT NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT TERROISM NOT TOBACCO!!
:argh: :argh: :argh:

 

[Broadway Joe]

I forgot to mention a quote from the last issue of CA. I don't have the exact quote in front of me, but it stated something along the lines of:

"A person can learn how to build a bomb on the Internet, yet you can go to jail for smoking a Cuban cigar..."

That's a great quote IMHO that shows how F'd up the gov'ts priorities are.....

 

[vperlman]

... I find it hard to believe that if it was a significant threat, that none of the head guys in the cigar industry have raised awareness any earlier than now. My feeling is that if it was a serious threat, we would have heard about it much earlier and there would have been petitions and emails/letters going around...

I do a lot of advocacy work on Capitol Hill, and I'm not surprised. These things often move in stealth mode and/or pop up at the last minute. E.g., there is a bill currently working its way through the CA legislature. It started as a stem cell research bill and got pretty far along. At the last minute, a senator "amended" it by deleting ALL of its language and substituting a completely new bill dealing with rights of publicity. Because that bill number was so far along in the process, they managed to avoid most of the usual notice and debate on the merits of the right of publicity legislation. Nice... :angryteet I live in constant terror of completely unrelated bills being tacked on to appropriation legislation at the last second... :bigeyes:

 

[Broadway Joe]

I do a lot of advocacy work on Capitol Hill, and I'm not surprised. These things often move in stealth mode and/or pop up at the last minute. E.g., there is a bill currently working its way through the CA legislature. It started as a stem cell research bill and got pretty far along. At the last minute, a senator "amended" it by deleting ALL of its language and substituting a completely new bill dealing with rights of publicity. Because that bill number was so far along in the process, they managed to avoid most of the usual notice and debate on the merits of the right of publicity legislation. Nice... :angryteet I live in constant terror of completely unrelated bills being tacked on to appropriation legislation at the last second... :bigeyes:

Wow, that is sneaky! I see what you mean by stealth mode and it's clear to see that their objectives, besides getting the bill passed, is to try and get through the entire process under the radar, this way they get less objections, b/c not many people know about it. Bastards.......:stickbeat

 

[Kingston]

The President wants to veto it based on some of the details of the health plan, not the tobacco tax.
SCHIP (the health plan in question) is not new; this is just its reauthorization.
It's a fairly successful plan, and both Republicans and Democrats are trying to get more kids to use it. It's federal funding, but state control of health coverage for low income kids.

The tobacco tax is just an easy way to pay for it. It gives political cover for the Republicans to vote on it, since it's a "sin tax."
They get to say "we taxed filthy smokers to help poor kids get healthy"

Both parties are fine with the tax (for the most part), the only major disagreement is on some of the details of the health plan.

 

[Headbanger]

I called both my Senators today to express my opinion. I have never done this before. I suggest we all make this a priority.

 

[caudio51]

Did you actually get to speak to them?

 

[vperlman]

Did you actually get to speak to them?

Not unless he contributes BIG bucks to their compaigns! :frownno:

 

[Headbanger]

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Barrasso, John- (R - WY)
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Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
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[Headbanger]

Did you actually get to speak to them?

Nope. Seems an admin. person was taking a tally on a piece of paper. One Senator office says they have gotten a lot of opposition phone calls and the other Senator line was busy the first 10 times I called.

 

[tobby4]

If Saxby votes for it here I will drive over to his house and personally smoke a stogie on his front lawn...

 

[jaxstraww]

I blame the cigar industry. Why would they wait until two days before the vote to call us up? The tobacco eyes and ears on Capital Hill should have told us about the bill months ago. Now we have hundreds of cigar smokers calling senators half cocked about not touching our cigars. We look like idiots. It should have been done slowly over a few months. Not TWO days before the vote? Are we providing any positive feedback? I’m hearing pipe tobacco is also going to be taxed. That means less demand and higher prices for the Virginian burley farmer or the grower of Connie Shade in Connecticut. Because of the tax hike sales will lower. Less demand means higher prices (law of supply and demand) so the guy that has to buy tobacco not only pays the higher taxes but pays higher taxes because of higher MRSP. Everything goes higher. That’s the argument I would make. Look what this will do domestically. I know these guys are shouting at these reps like idiots. Should have constructive arguments.

It’ll also make the price point of domestics and ISOM’s closer meaning more action outside of Miami.

The manufacturers are all scared and called on us to fix it. Sure 50% is steep but you will still be able to get a $5 smoke for $7.50. They have to pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars for their inventory. I hope they remember us if anything does go their way. Veto or not the bill in some form will get done. They shot the moon for the 50% but something will happen just not 53%.

 

[cvm4]

You tax them that much and people will quit buying. I know I'd cut back a lot if this goes through. I emailed my rep. and senators :thumbsup:

 

[GWN]

You tax them that much and people will quit buying. I know I'd cut back a lot if this goes through. I emailed my rep. and senators :thumbsup:

That certainly seems to be the intent of what has happened here in Ontario. Outlawing tobacco use would be next to impossible, but taxing the hell out of us has certainly put a huge dent in the industry.
For those unaware, we pay about three times MSRP, all tax, can't smoke in any workplace (such as restaurants, bars AND B&Ms) and not even on a patio if it's covered. You tell me - is this taxation or a form of prohibition? Looks like the same kind of ideal is in the works in the U.S.

 

[cvm4]

It's definitely a form of prohibition and makes them look bad if they vote against it, since it's "for the children."

 

[Headbanger]

Did this pass or what???

 

[JMN]

I don't know it if passed but I agree that it seems odd that we all only hear about it two days before it goes up. You would think the tobacco industry would have been playing newspaper tag with this.

I think that we would all continue to buy cigars however. Having said that, it is bills like this that matter, we have to stand up to over zealous taxing and near prohibition of products. We live in a society very susceptible to extremes of fundmentalism, or people just jumping on bandwagons because of flash and pizzaz. As rational individuals we must make our voices heard to.

Is it better to call or email your senator?

 

[vperlman]

... Is it better to call or email your senator?

Call, I think. :dunno: