Cigarrette smuggling in Md.

[CRedskinsRule]

Boost in Md. cigarette taxes a boon for smugglers - baltimoresun.com

I thought this was a very well written piece, pointing out the reality of high taxes when neighboring states have low ones. Think the writer made several good points. Any thoughts?

[Trample the Elderly]

When I was smoking I went to the hood (Creighton Court, Fulton Hill, or Church Hill) and got a carton for ($20.00). I never pay taxes when I don't have to. Everytime I go up to New Jersey, I take as many smokes as I can. It pays for my split of the gas and food, with a little left over.

[Monkeydad]

Not a tobacco user, but I oppose these aggressive taxes on what the Government deems to be unhealthy...next we'll have a bacon tax!

H.R. 4439, the Tobacco Tax Parity Act of 2010 was introduced on January 13, 2010 and would raise the tax on pipe tobacco 775% from $2.8311 to $24.78 per pound.



111TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION H. R. 4439
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose the same rate
of tax on pipe tobacco as is imposed on roll-your-own tobacco.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 13, 2010
Mr. COHEN (for himself and Mr. DOGGETT) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose
the same rate of tax on pipe tobacco as is imposed
on roll-your-own tobacco.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,



SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tobacco Tax Parity Act of 2010’’.



SEC. 2. PIPE TOBACCO AND ROLL-YOUR-OWN TOBACCO RATE PARITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (f) of section 5701 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘$2.8311 cents’’ and inserting ‘‘$24.78’’.



(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to articles removed (as defined in section 5702(j) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) after the date of the enactment of this Act.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Buster

Not a tobacco user, but I oppose these aggressive taxes on what the Government deems to be unhealthy...next we'll have a bacon tax!

YUMMMMMMM! Bacon, bacon. bacon don't tax my bacon.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Buster

Not a tobacco user, but I oppose these aggressive taxes on what the Government deems to be unhealthy...next we'll have a bacon tax!

If you smoke you're more likely to end up in the hospital in your elder years, costing Medicare more.

Just like car insurance where if you're prone to accidents you pay a higher premium, so should smokers because their hospital and pharmaceutical utilization is higher.

I don't care whether the additional tax revenue actually goes to Medicare, or goes somewhere else. Bottom line is it's only fair to pay more for risk coverage if you engage in riskier behavior.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

If you smoke you're more likely to end up in the hospital in your elder years, costing Medicare more.

Just like car insurance where if you're prone to accidents you pay a higher premium, so should smokers because their hospital and pharmaceutical utilization is higher.

I don't care whether the additional tax revenue actually goes to Medicare, or goes somewhere else. Bottom line is it's only fair to pay more for risk coverage if you engage in riskier behavior.

Are you so sure about that?

White House statement supporting the bill, which awaits action in the Senate, echoed the argument by contending that tobacco use "accounts for over a $100 billion annually in financial costs to the economy."
However, smokers die some 10 years earlier than nonsmokers, according to the CDC, and those premature deaths provide a savings to Medicare, Social Security, private pensions and other programs.
Vanderbilt University economist Kip Viscusi studied the net costs of smoking-related spending and savings and found that for every pack of cigarettes smoked, the country reaps a net cost savings of 32 cents.
Do smokers cost society money?

[budw38]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Are you so sure about that?

White House statement supporting the bill, which awaits action in the Senate, echoed the argument by contending that tobacco use "accounts for over a $100 billion annually in financial costs to the economy."
However, smokers die some 10 years earlier than nonsmokers, according to the CDC, and those premature deaths provide a savings to Medicare, Social Security, private pensions and other programs.
Vanderbilt University economist Kip Viscusi studied the net costs of smoking-related spending and savings and found that for every pack of cigarettes smoked, the country reaps a net cost savings of 32 cents.
Do smokers cost society money?

Nice work first . And the Vikings score again on the cowturds

[jsarno]

These debates always make me laugh. Why would it matter if they taxed the hell out of cigs unless you were a cig addict? Fact is, you do not need cigs in any form or fashion to live. There is absolutely no need for it...none, not even a minor need. So if you don't like the tax...dont smoke!
Howard Stern (whom I can't stand) made a valuable point MANY years ago. If you don't like me, turn the channel. I have every time he comes on. The point is dead on here too...if you don't like the tax on it, stop smoking.
RAISE CIG TAXES!

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by jsarno

These debates always make me laugh. Why would it matter if they taxed the hell out of cigs unless you were a cig addict? Fact is, you do not need cigs in any form or fashion to live. There is absolutely no need for it...none, not even a minor need. So if you don't like the tax...dont smoke!
Howard Stern (whom I can't stand) made a valuable point MANY years ago. If you don't like me, turn the channel. I have every time he comes on. The point is dead on here too...if you don't like the tax on it, stop smoking.
RAISE CIG TAXES!

We don't need to talk to live either. Should there be a tax on talking? Studies show that running off at the mouth can be very dangerous, even more so than cigarettes.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by jsarno

These debates always make me laugh. Why would it matter if they taxed the hell out of cigs unless you were a cig addict? Fact is, you do not need cigs in any form or fashion to live. There is absolutely no need for it...none, not even a minor need. So if you don't like the tax...dont smoke!
Howard Stern (whom I can't stand) made a valuable point MANY years ago. If you don't like me, turn the channel. I have every time he comes on. The point is dead on here too...if you don't like the tax on it, stop smoking.
RAISE CIG TAXES!

Oh God Js, you're starting to sound like the dems. What's going on here?! lol

I don't smoke but tons of my friends do. I love how they're like, "Mmm. I should stop smoking, the tax is so high..." *puffs away on a cig* I gotta admit, I'm in the same boat as you though, Js. But if they start taxing my bacon, I'll be raising hell.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I love bacon, but it isn't mentally and physically addictive.

Unless it's the Baconator! YUM.

[jamf]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I love bacon, but it isn't mentally and physically addictive.

Unless it's the Baconator! YUM.

How about a salad?
not martha — bacon cups

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Trample the Elderly

We don't need to talk to live either. Should there be a tax on talking? Studies show that running off at the mouth can be very dangerous, even more so than cigarettes.

Really? That's your argument? This is why I laugh. So tell you what, teach everyone to communicate in sign language, then you have an argument, until then, you can come up with an argument that holds a "tiny bit" of water other than your argument that is totally inept.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Oh God Js, you're starting to sound like the dems. What's going on here?! lol

I don't smoke but tons of my friends do. I love how they're like, "Mmm. I should stop smoking, the tax is so high..." *puffs away on a cig* I gotta admit, I'm in the same boat as you though, Js. But if they start taxing my bacon, I'll be raising hell.

Well you know, I am a registered independant!
I still think if cigs are legal, they should legalize weed and tax the hell out of it.
(yup, i did it, I opened that can of worms.)

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Well you know, I am a registered independant!
I still think if cigs are legal, they should legalize weed and tax the hell out of it.
(yup, i did it, I opened that can of worms.)

Decriminalization of weed should've happened long, long ago. I hope I live to see it.