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Thursday, April 2, 2009 | 1 a.m.
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- Ease on smoking ban among 100-plus new measures (3-23-2009)
Sun coverage
A new federal tax that increased the government's cut from every pack of cigarettes sold by about 62 cents went into effect Monday, but smokers have already been paying the additional cost for about a month.
At the Green Valley Smoke Shop at Pecos and Windmill roads on Wednesday afternoon, part-owner Nic Petrcaro said all the brands he sells raised their prices to cover the additional tax, as well as a little bit extra to cover anticipated drops in sales.
Petrcaro said he's hearing his customers grumble about the increase. Some have switched to cheaper brands; some have taken up electronic cigarettes.
Many have threatened to quit, he said, but only one or two regulars have stopped coming into the shop since the prices went up.
"It's the same stuff: 'I'm going to quit now, but give me a carton for the last time,'" Petrcaro said. "Same old, same old."
The new tax, which raises the federal excise tax on tobacco to a little more than $1 per pack, will fund an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP), which provides health care for children of households that make too much money to qualify for Medicare, but can't afford private health insurance.
Petrcaro said he understands the business of tax increases on cigarettes and is used to them, but said this is the largest single increase he's ever seen and worries about how it will affect business.
Glori Papadopoulos, a regular at Green Valley Smoke Shop, had nothing good to say about the tax increase after paying $40 for a carton of Misty Lights — which a month ago cost her less than $31.
The biggest problem, she said, is that the new cigarette tax is unfair when compared with other vice taxes.
"Beer, wine and whiskey — those taxes didn't go up the same, and (people drinking) are the ones out there driving drunk and hurting people," Papadopoulos said.
She said the new price won't get her to quit — she's tried patches, pills and hypnosis, and none of them have worked. She's a big supporter for anti-smoking programs for youth, she said, but has given up on the notion of quitting.
"(Quit) at my age? No way," Papadopoulos said. "Not at my age."
Another Green Valley customer, Greg Bilal, said Nevada smokers still don't pay as much as smokers in other parts of the country, because of varying state taxes on cigarettes.
"I guess (the new tax) isn't that big of a shock to me," Bilal said. "I've lived on the East Coast, where we pay $8 to $10 for a pack."
That may not last long, however.
Petrcaro said his biggest concern is with the Nevada Legislature, where a bill has been introduced that would increase the state's tax on cigarettes by an additional $1 a pack. The increase, part of Assembly Bill 255, would provide additional funding for Nevada's CHIP and health care for pregnant women.
"People have already accepted this price, but now Nevada is talking about raising the state tax by another $10 per carton," he said. "That would be a killer."
2nd hand smoke kills more people than hookers..........TAX EM!!!
Zero sympathy for idiots. Tax them into EXTINCTION.
Over 50% of smokers are poor. They should not be wasting the money.
Tax them more, they are disusting.
vegasj, lastword, Nick -- You're all wrong.
See why at "The Second-Hand Smoke Charade"
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_...
and "Please Do Smoke, If You Like"
https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub...
and "The Case Against Smoking Bans"
http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv...
This is from a lifelong nonsmoker, except for the occasional cigar.
KillerB, I've read your links and I don't buy the arguments. Smoking is a choice. If you don't want to pay the tax, don't smoke. Period. Problem solved. I would similarly support a high tax on alcohol, but not because they're 'sins' related taxes. But because of the choice involved. If you don't wish to pay or can't, don't use it. You won't hear me complain about the high cost of cable, because I don't subscribe.
But what I find interesting is nature of responses from smokers: "raising the state tax by another $10 a carton... That would be a killer." Right, THAT would be...
You might get more sympathy from me if you say, hit yourself in the head with a tack-hammer and then complained that it hurt.
DUH.
Man...... They raised the taxes on my swisher single dog, I'll have to go back to my pack o wraps for my blunts now. sheeeeeet.
Obama broke his no tax increase pledge on those making less than $250k.
He did it in record time within 30 days in office.
He is just another lying pol.
One of the very first bills that Ms. Taxus (Titus) voted for was a tax increase.
.......No big surprise there.
Can't think of a more worthy recepient of a tax increase!
Smokers of both legal tobaccos and illegal tobaccos will cost us, the taxpaying public, down the line when they contract COPD and, horrors, the Big C. We could be using the tax money for finding cures for genetic diseases, or cures for man made diseases such as mesothelioma.
The tobacco companies, i.e. the smokers, are already paying for those cost via the settlement with all the states.
Most states use that money for various things.
Interesting arguments. So using the same train of thought:
Increase taxes on all alcohol--a choice
Increase taxes on all fast food- a choice-not healthy, causes fat kids
Increase taxes on fat people-a choice-they use more resources
Increase taxes on meat, fish, poultry-a choice-not necessary for life, can cause fat kids/adults
Increase taxes on gambling and everything that supports/contributes to it-a choice-not necessary for anything, contributes to emotional, family problems, uses to many natural resources
There are alot of tax increases I would like to propose, but I won't pre judge people like some of the previous comments do
peegee -- my point is smoking bans, the issue slopping over here, are based on propaganda and junk science. Not what's in the headlines, but I've found Cato's articles mostly credible.
I just love all these feelgooders.
OUTLAW gambling! It destroys lives.
Just remember the tax increases are for the "CHILDREN"! Change we can believe in. Ha Ha Ha... Hold onto your wallet.............
It will also be interesting to see how far the tax proposal gets on caffeine-containing products.
Wrong? Never.
Smokers are idiots. A fact.
Keep raising cigarette taxes, smokers will eventually quit.
Enough said.
Would you hire a person who needs to disappear every 1-2 hours to go outside, and stare at the sky while smoking? How about my ex-boss, who, when we were at meetings with the City, would get "urgent" calls that were preplanned so he could go outside and smoke. How about the construction supt who would go to meetings with a wastebasket in tow, to use as a spittoon. Funny thing is that many tobacco addicts now stand outside, and call someone on their cellphone to look like they're actually doing something while smoking. They're a dying breed, and it can't come fast enough...
I'm a smoker - and absolutely will not defend this stupid addiction - I try to be a polite smoker and respect others, and, I happily will pay more taxes to fund SCHIP!
I like a nice cold Martini or Beer now and then - but, I never, ever drink and drive! So let's raise taxes on ALCOHOL TOO! Smokers don't cause near as many deaths as drunk drivers! In fact, let's DOUBLE the insurance rates and vehicle and license plate taxes on drivers that have been convicted of a DUI, and TRIPLE it on those that have been caught twice, and QUADRUPLE it on those caught three times!
I'll have to give some more thought to raising taxes on fatty foods - but, at first blush, I like that idea too!
Peegee76 wrote "KillerB, I've read your links and I don't buy the arguments. Smoking is a choice. If you don't want to pay the tax, don't smoke."
Nope, thats why I buy my smokes from overseas and pay 0 tax. Enough said, and yes it is legal as long as I bring 1 carton at a time.
Who cares what the smoking whiners think? They single-handedly make the cost of health care skyrocket, all in the name of feeding their addiction. Consider it a health care tax.
Also, if you don't like smoking don't do it, but for others that choose to, you have no right to say yeah, tax em to death cause I don't like it. I hate dominos pizza, but I am not going to say tax those who CHOOSE dominos pizza and extra $5 a pizza.
ksand99 "Who cares what the smoking whiners think? They single-handedly make the cost of health care skyrocket, all in the name of feeding their addiction. Consider it a health care tax."
Obesity is a major issue in america and there far more obese people than smokers and obesity can lead to major health issues. Why not add a heatlhcare tax to people that are 20 or more pounds over weight?
this counrty was founded on tobacco. every gi in world war II, Korea and Vietnam was given free smokes tax the hell out of alcohol too then lets tax every casino patron 50 cents then lets tax the hell out of condoms then lets tax bullets 50 cents a bullet then lets tax sugar a dollar a pound. all those fat people which is 75% of you are clogging my health care system up with you fat butts then lets tax saturated fat. 1 dollar a pond and no i dont smoke cant train when you smoke the after we tax all this stuff we can start the second american revolution and go back to having a cheap pack of smokes
I must agree with everything jtrudeau and Rocco said and as for taxing over weight people ( for MI, CVA,High Chol ect talk about health issues) the US tresuary would be rich. USA the country of FAT
Question: If pot is legalized, will it fall under the same laws/rules as smoking or same laws/rules as drinking. Will everyone that is complaining about cig smoke complain about pot smoke or will it be "no I like pot, thats OK".
Cigarettes DO NOT increase our national health bill for one simple reason--smokers die sooner. Smokers don't live as long. My mother has to take a lot of expensive medications and her supplemental medical insurance is $3000 a year. Old age is expensive. It's like the Dilbert cartoon where the boss tells everybody that they are looking for ways to reduce their pension costs--and on an unrelated note smoking is now encouraged. lol