Cigarette tax

[Tonio]

Ken,

You make a good point about Maryland's cigarette tax. Our lawmakers are so eager to grandstand about the evils of smoking, they don't realize that a higher cigarette tax only promotes smuggling. You're right that much of the revenue from the tax is probably wasted on enforcement. How about the hidden costs, such as wear and tear on the 301 bridge from the smuggling traffic? If the lawmakers were realistic (that will be the day), they would lower the tax to roughly match that in Virginia as well as those in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

By the way, I write this as a lifelong nonsmoker. Even though I can't stand cigarette smoke, I don't want to see smoking banned. If someone wants to smoke, it's their choice (and their funeral).

[Ken King (Premo)]

Tonio,

The wear and tear on the Harry Nice Bridge will be minimal and they always have the toll to pay for upgrades/repairs.  Once the boaters discover how much they can make bringing a few cases across the river the wear and tear issue should go away.

I still wish they would offer to buy the wife and me out of our evil choice.  It probably would have been a better use of the settlement money.

[vraiblonde]

I still wish they would offer to buy the wife and me out of our evil choice.  It probably would have been a better use of the settlement money.

Okay, but you know that this isn't about getting anyone to quit smoking - it's about getting more money for the government to fritter away.  If we <i>really</i> wanted to piss them off, we'd quit enmasse.  Then they'd have to go forward with the "junk food tax" that's been proposed.  What are they going to tax if nobody smokes, we all eat only healthy foods, get plenty of exercise and only drive little bitty cars?  Let's force them to get creative!

[Ken King (Premo)]

Vraiblonde,

That would be great but I figure that they would just jack up the income tax rates to make up for any shortfall.

[BigBrothaCon]

Ken,

Not much to add to your statement other than Good Job!!  Another bad idea brought to us by the freakin idiot we call governor.  Vote Republican!

[Syd]

Another horrible idea; I totally agree with your point that extreme taxation won't stop people from smoking.  

Although I don't smoke, it's a person's choice. Now, because of their choice, they should suffer (to quote Lucious Sweet) a grievous miscarriage of taxtitude? Seems sort of un-just, if I were to make the call.

[Sharon (Premo)]

Cigarette tax
Liquor tax
MD State income tax
Federal income tax
MD state sales tax
Gasoline tax
Luxury car tax

SMECO--
Public service Co Franchise tax
Electric universal service charge
MD environmental service charge

CALVERT CO Real Estate--
state tax
county tax
solid waste fee
CRE special tax district

AT&T--
National access "contribution"
Taxes & surcharges

Verizon--
Taxes, surcharges, & "other" fees

Comcast--
Taxes & fees

Whatever money you managed to save in the bank and earned interest on, "Form 1099" they tax that too. :angry:

Even if you don't smoke, we're all screwed.

[James D]

How about FICA Taxes?

[yornoc]

How about 911 tax?

[Warron]

I've always found it funny that these people are always complaining about how addicting smoking is and how much damage it is doing to the healthcare system, so then they go out and take advantage of that addiction by increasing the tax on cigarettes to benifit one of their pet projects.. It makes it obvious that the politicians dont really want smokers to quit, because they would loose all their precious tax money. They just want to lower public opinion of smokers enough that noone complains when the taxes are added on.