that's not fair
Georgia Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, wants to raise the state's tobacco tax by $1, and he says providing money to the cash-strapped state and discouraging children from lighting up are reason enough for the change.
The Savannah Republican's bill introduced Tuesday would make Georgia's tax, now 37 cents a pack, higher than any neighboring state's.
An identical bill last year never made it out of committee. Mr. Stephens said the projected state budget deficit of more than $2 billion and the absence of elections improve his bill's chances.
SUPPORTERS SAY: Mr. Stephens' supporters -- which include the American Cancer Society, the Medical Association of Georgia and the American Heart Association -- estimate his plan would bring in $350 million yearly for the state and reduce the $537 million Georgia spends handling smoking-related illnesses.
Mr. Stephens dismissed concerns that smokers would cross state lines to buy lower-priced cigarettes, saying surrounding states are likely to enact tobacco increases because of their own budget problems.
South Carolina, which has the nation's lowest cigarette tax at 7 cents per pack, is expected to raise its tax this year. Disagreements over how to spend the revenue led the increase's defeat last year.
GOVERNMENT OPPOSITION: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson, both Republicans, have said they oppose tax increases to make up the revenue shortfall, expected to top $2 billion for the current fiscal year. Gov. Sonny Perdue has also expressed reluctance to increase taxes to plug the budget gap.
Mr. Cagle called the proposal a "pipe dream" and said that since the tobacco tax was increased in 2003 it had not delivered as much revenue as expected.
"People adjust their buying habits away from branded to unbranded and so the tax revenue is not as great as one might think," he said.
INDUSTRY OPPOSITION: Tobacco marketers point to Delaware, which has seen cigarette sales double since New Jersey began a series of tax increases in 1990. They also note that the revenues rarely meet expectations.
A 25-cent boost in Georgia's cigarette tax in 2003 to meet that year's projected budget deficit ultimately fell 35 percent below expectations, said Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA.
"It was meant to fill a budget hole then and created another to the tune of $63 million," he said.
HISTORY: Georgia last raised its cigarette tax in 2003. Facing staggering revenue shortfalls, Mr. Perdue pushed through a 25-per-pack increase, earning criticism from some conservative anti-tax groups.
NATIONALLY: Georgia lags behind the national cigarette tax average of $1.18-a-pack. The 37-cent tax ranks 43rd in the country.
WHAT WILL SMOKERS DO?
Billy Holloway said the $15 he spends each week on cigarettes is all he can spare.
The Augusta man said if the tax increase is approved he'll be forced to buy elsewhere.
"I'm going to Carolina. If I have to walk across the bridge to get them, that's what I'll do," he said Tuesday outside a BP on Broad Street. "They're already taxing everything too high."
Georgia smokers are already crossing the bridge for cigarettes, and that will only increase with a higher tax, said Ricky Jackson, a cigarette salesman for Home Folks Wholesale Co., an Augusta wholesaler that distributes to most convenience markets in North Augusta.
"More than 20 percent of the customers in South Carolina are from Georgia," Mr. Jackson said. "They're already saving $3 a carton."
Connie Clayton, of Millen, Ga., works in Augusta and often purchases her cigarettes from Cheap Cigarettes in North Augusta. She said the tax increase seems unfair.
"It seems like they should raise it on other things," she said. "It's not right to single out the smokers."
-- Stephanie Toone, Staff Writer
Comments
that's not fair
I'll go to North Augusta for mine.
Smoking is an addiction. No matter how high the tax, smokers will buy. I don't know why an anti-tax group would be against a consumption tax. The addict gets to choose to pay this tax...or not.
Why not an extra $1 tax on fast food? The addict would get to choose to pay this tax... or not. Or maybe a $1 tax on gasoline - You don't HAVE to drive, you choose to. Eventually, the government can tax us into acting the way they want us to, because as we all know, government knows what's best for us.
1960 more than 70% smoke, and everyone wants to know why cancer is on the rise. What is causing it? The ACS and AMA say smoking. We have a nearly 100% smoke inclusive environment. 2009 We have a nearly 100% smoke excluded environment, and 22% smoke. Has there been a drop in the number of cases of lung cancer that correlates with the decrease in tobacco use and smoke exposure? No! In fact cancer rates continued to climb at the same rate as before the "smoking kills" campaign. Are we being mislead?
In the 1930's a man convinced a nation that the behaviors of a small minority were responsible for nearly all the ills of it's society. He used junk science and propaganda campaigns, and the masses followed him. The minorities were persecuted through regulation, taxation, and social stigma, and everyone thought it was good. That BS campaign led to the extermination of 6 million Jews and 10 million Christians, and if you visit Germany today, they try and pretend as if it never happened. The dumb masses are easily deceived, and no lie is so ridiculous that if told enough people won't believe it, even in the face of facts to the contrary.
There are many things out there that cancer can be blamed on but it is easy for people to blame smokers, I have known many who have never smoked and didn't have parents that smoked that died from cancer. Look at preservatives in our foods, polution from cars and factories, the list goes on and on.
You have the right to believe what you want 5:00smwhr...I believed in that right and really was a very good speaker on the merits of smoking at one time...Only when, like it happens to so many, after being stupid, ignorant and I supposed permanent brain freeze I realized just how much "crap" I was hawking and how much bad air I was producing around the people I loved as well as strangers...The argument of "everything" around could cause cancer is okay until someone you know or you yourself are afflicted with diseases that are the direct result of smoking...But be that as it may smoking is a personal addiction...It doesn't matter how high the prices go the smoker will find a way to continue his/her habit until it catches up to them...
The government that passes laws to protect the rights and freedoms of one citizen from being infringed upon by another is protecting freedom. The government that passes laws to protect free people from themselves is practicing tyranny.
What happens when some smokers decide to quit (which is a good thing) and the revenue doesn't match what they expect? What will they decide to increase taxes on then? Food, Alcohol, Lottery, Gas, etc...
Hey! Do like me- dip copenhagen-then u won't infringe on anothers rights... unless you want a spit in the eye.. lol hehe
mutt, I don't think passing a tax law on tobacco is to protect the rights of anyone. I think it's just a way to raise money on addicts. The state government knows they'll pay anything for the product. Of course, if the addiction weren't so overwhelming, the addict would just find a new crutch. I say, "Pay the consumption tax and continue to enjoy the legal vice of your choice".
The sin tax on cigarettes never raises the revenue that they project when the law is passed. Smokers that have no other source just cut back their smoking a little. Most smokers learn to buy in bulk from out of state. And just like the days of prohibition, if things get too bad smokers will buy from the cigarette bootleggers and bypass the taxes altogether. Just like drivers cut back when gas got too high, smokers will cut back on Georgia taxed smokes if the tax gets too high and the revenue will not increase very much.
www.fairtax.org Equal taxation for all! Check it out PT. BTW you're right UNEQUAL taxation without equal representation doesn't protect the rights of anyone!
Republicans have always been firmly for the idea that most if not all of the taxes should be paid by the little guy. After all, if you tax the rich, it cuts back on the campaign contributions....
good----make it go up $10.00 a pack for all I care-----then maybe healthcare costs will go down-----I am tired of taking care of people through my tax dollars that do not take care of themselves
Wake up smokers cheaper cigaretts only make it possible for you to die cheaper. QUIT SMOKING altogether and see how much you can save and how much better you will feel.
PT: As we are ALL addicted to gasoline, shouldn't we just raise the gas tax $1? Rich or poor, black or white, gay or straight, smoker or non, Christian or muslim, we all pay the same for gas and not taxing it at a much higher rate hurts us all. The revenue would be massive, the effect on consumption and conservation would be positive, and we'd have a consistant motivation to move to alternative energy vehicles. Tax cigs as high as you wish, I have no objection to that, but not taxing gasoline as we should is a lost opportunity.
Age related illness is by far and away the largest drain on the health care system, especially auto immune diseases. I have a friend who starts a new arthritis treatment soon, his medication will cost $9,000 PER DOSE. He pays the first $2000 to cover his deductible for the year and insurance pays the rest for the remainder of the year. My mother died of cancer a few years back. They found the cancer and she died 3 days later. Who is the biggest drain on the system? Give me a break! Look up the facts. "Smoking related illness" is not a "huge" drain on the system as many insist. Just living to be old and suffering with age related illness is far more costly to the system. Based on the flawed logic of many here, I guess we should jack up the tax on old people. Oops never mind AARP members are a huge voting block so that won't fly!
If the government wants more tax money they need to encourage young people to smoke and get addicted. They can't have it both ways. Government wants tax money and health is secondary. There may be several reasons cancer is on the rise. One for sure is the way wisdom teeth have been removed over the past years creating the tooth tumor connection because the formation of cavitation. Another is social drinking by women which raises breast cancer by 50%. Biopsy has caused simple tumors that are trying to save your life by storing toxic material to be spread and destroy it. Sunshine, water, exercise, low sugar intake and eating at home will do wonders for your health and you see the results in one week.
My brother, who has smoked like a chimney since age 15, has been diagnosed with emphysema and COPD. He is going to have to shut down his business soon and will probably file for bankruptcy this year. He doesn't have medical insurance so he is not getting care for this or taking any medicine. And he is only FIFTY THREE. We don't expect him to live to see 60. PLEASE, if you smoke, for your family's sake as well as your own, stop smoking!
You can still buy loose tobacco and roll your own smokes, I don't think they are going to increase the tax on loose tobacco. You just may get some strange looks from the police.
"The sin tax on cigarettes never raises the revenue that they project when the law is passed." ---- Much like all that money the States got suing the tobacco companies for "prevention and treatment" of tobacco illnesses. That money has been long spent on anything else. Biggest revenue bringer would be taxing alcohol...but Bubba will complain bitterly if his Bud costs even 10cents more, especially at 8am in the morning.
Tax the heck out of them and raise their insurance premiums! Tobacco is not an illness --its a choice!
Purdue has recently issued a statement that he is lowering the gas tax for Georgians; he has to find another group to filch the revenue from--and it is popular to bash the smoker. Problem is, he will not net the megabucks he thinks such a tax willl generate.
Amen dale88fan...Well said...
Mr stephens, $5.00 would be a better tax on cigarettes. Sure would discourage kids from smoking.
I think we should have a fast food tax! That crap is unhealthy. A lot more people eat fast food, and it would generate tons of revenue. We should also have a fat tax. Charge an extra dollar per pair for pants with waists 36 or higher. Oh an extra dollar for each size over 36 for men, and the same for women who are fatties, jack up the tax on their clothes too! Type two diabetes and other illnesses that are related to being over weight are really taxing the health care system. Obesity kills you know. Fat slobs take up all the isle width at Walmart waddling along. It's disgusting! I'm sick of paying high insurance premiums to treat some fatso with no will power. They're destroying the environment as well. More fuel to fly their big behinds through the air on planes, and haul them around in cars. And everytime some poor old person who really needs one of those battery powered shopping scooters comes into a store, there are none because the lard butts are using them all. Tater chips should cost $25 a bag. What do I care? I don't eat them. And parents who feed their kids "Happy meals" should be horse whipped. A cheese burger should cost 50 bucks with 48 of that being tax.
The proposals for increasing the gas tax as well as cigarettes is ludicrous. We don't have to drive a pack of cigarettes to work, the doctor, or grocery store.
I know a lot more people with weight related illnesses than smoking illnesses, we could really rake in the bucks! Put scales at the grocery store check out, and if you weight doesn't fall in line with your height, ZAP, tax time bubble butt!
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