SCHIP Round 2...here we go again

[IHT]

i thought this bill was about children?? what's it got to do with tobacco?
or am i confused?

[BlueHavanaII]

Originally Posted by IHT

i thought this bill was about children?? what's it got to do with tobacco?
or am i confused?

You are correct... it IS about the children (according to the Democrats!).
The only problem is that you (the smoker) will be paying for these kids healthcare with higher tobacco taxes (expect cigar prices to increase about 70%).

[IHT]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

Here's a link to the article...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/...ldren_s_health

that's total bullshit.
not one word about anything dealing with tobacco products in that article.
some slick ass muther truckers... i hate politicians.
this country needs a fuggin enema.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by IHT

that's total bullshit.
some slick ass muther truckers... i hate politicians.
this country needs a fuggin enema.

I do believe it is a bit Impacted!!!

[mdtaggart]

Originally Posted by Bob

I do believe it is a bit Impacted!!!

Impacted because their head is blocking the exit.

[tedski]

Originally Posted by IHT

i thought this bill was about children?? what's it got to do with tobacco?
or am i confused?

What's even more confusing is that Congress continues to tie funding for this measure to tobacco taxes ... while at the same time they, along with state governments are doing everything possible to force more and more people to quit smoking.

It's like throwing a bag of hammers to a drowning man ...

[IHT]

Originally Posted by tedski

What's even more confusing is that Congress continues to tie funding for this measure to tobacco taxes ... while at the same time they, along with state governments are doing everything possible to force more and more people to quit smoking.

It's like throwing a bag of hammers to a drowning man ...

excellent point, ted.

[kjjm4]

That's why people who don't smoke should be against taxing the hell out of smokers to fund new programs. Eventually, there won't be enough smokers to foot the bill, and they're not going to cut the program, so the tax burden will fall on everybody else.

[IHT]

Originally Posted by kjjm4

That's why people who don't smoke should be against taxing the hell out of smokers to fund new programs. Eventually, there won't be enough smokers to foot the bill, and they're not going to cut the program, so the tax burden will fall on everybody else.

nah, i just don't think that program will stay funded for long.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by IHT

nah, i just don't think that program will stay funded for long.

It dang well would not stay funded if there was a smoke out

But that would hurt a lot of people in the Tobacco business including the farmers.

[brigey]

Originally Posted by kjjm4

That's probably true. They Democrats probably won't budge an inch in the meantime, and the kids that were relying on SCHIP will get the shaft, unless the states pick up the tab somehow.

I don't mean to pick on your comment, but it reminds me of what I would have to do if the insurance companies would not pay for it or if I did not make enough to pay for the medical procedure myself, I would do whatever it takes to provide for my family. Ask parents, church members, friends, relatives, take on a second or third job until I could pay for it. We have become (generally speaking that is) lazy as a country looking for the govenment to pay for just about everything.

I enjoy smoking cigars quite a bit, but if it came down to my children or my smoking pleasure, I would have to give the cigars up for my family.

[RaiderinKS]

I agree with taxing cigarette smokers to the hilt for stuff. If you are actually bothering to inhale smoke, you are causing an enormous economic burden on your countrymen (because you probably wont be able to afford the cost of your own healthcare). However, this cigar taxing bullshit is total horsecrap.

[Bax]

Originally Posted by kjjm4

That's why people who don't smoke should be against taxing the hell out of smokers to fund new programs. Eventually, there won't be enough smokers to foot the bill, and they're not going to cut the program, so the tax burden will fall on everybody else.

I think that is the whole point. It's a win/win situation for the government.

It's not that there won't be enough smokers to tax (There always will) but as the taxes rise, more people will quit smoking, therefore lowering the cost of the healthcare for those people. Less you spend on the cancer/lung disease patients, the more you can spend on the childrens care.

The problem they aren't admitting is that cigars are normally for pleasure, not an addiction... well for some, I've seen some of the humi pics floating around this site. ... and the affects that the cigar tax will have on aide. As the countries that rely on cigars as major income suffer, we'll be increasing aide to help, therefore negating a large portion of the tax money.

I can't count how many people come into my store and complain that they need to quit cigarettes, but just can't. Hitting the in the wallet may be the only way to stop them, but I've NEVER heard someone come in say they really need to quit smoking cigars.

Paying for childrens health care for a few years or paying for Cigarette smokers for the rest of their lives. Which makes you more angry? All I can tell you is which one is MUCH more expensive, and it isn't the kids.

I say tax the hell out of cigarettes and leave the handmades alone!

[qwerty1500]

It's a lovely theory ... we can help the children with a tax that someone else pays. How can you be against that?

Maybe we need a french fry tax ... and maybe a sofa tax too ... after all, those over-weight couch potatoes may become a burden on society. We could build that Woodstock museum and probably pay off the national debt.

Let's use the tax code to control behavior. Then, someday, when I'm perfectly politically correct, I won't owe any taxes. What a great idea!

[macjoe53]

Here's an idea. Instead of taxing tobacco products to pay for children's healthcare why not tax something that is a definite contributor to their health problems - soft drinks. From what I understand, the U.S. consumes in the neighborhood of 8.5 BILLION gallons of soft drinks a year. Congress should put a 5¢ a gallon excise tax on the manufacture of soft drinks. Of course, this will be passed on to the consumer but the cost increase would probably only be in the neighborhood of 10¢ for a 2 liter bottle (that's just WAG - wild ass guess!).

Now if my math is right, then governement would receive approximately $425,000,000 a year in taxes just from the manufacturers.