SCHIP Round 2...here we go again

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

Congress should put a 5¢ a gallon excise tax on the manufacture of soft drinks.

Not a bad idea really ... if all you want to do is fund SCHIP.

But, if you really want to solve the problem, create one of those "win-win" situations, you must control the childrens' behavior. Since parents aren't responsible enough to stop their children from drinking soft drinks, the government must do that for them. Congress could use the tax code ... $1 a can should do the job.

But, why stop there? How about a sugar tax? I probably ought to give up pie anyway.

I'm just afraid that soft drinks and sugar aren't politically incorrect enough ... yet. Give them time ... they will get around to it.

[macjoe53]

Originally Posted by qwerty1500

Not a bad idea really ... if all you want to do is fund SCHIP.

But, if you really want to solve the problem, create one of those "win-win" situations, you must control the childrens' behavior. Since parents aren't responsible enough to stop their children from drinking soft drinks, the government must do that for them. Congress could use the tax code ... $1 a can should do the job.

But, why stop there? How about a sugar tax? I probably ought to give up pie anyway.

I'm just afraid that soft drinks and sugar aren't politically incorrect enough ... yet. Give them time ... they will get around to it.

Ahh! You don't understand the progression. First they tax soft drinks which would lead to less sales because people would quit, so to make up the budget shortfall they start taxing all breakfast sugar containing additional sugar. How many pounds of Frosted Flakes and Corn Pops are sold each year? Think of the money that congress could steal from out pockets!

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

Ahh! You don't understand the progression. First they tax soft drinks which would lead to less sales because people would quit, so to make up the budget shortfall they start taxing all breakfast sugar containing additional sugar. How many pounds of Frosted Flakes and Corn Pops are sold each year? Think of the money that congress could steal from out pockets!

You're way ahead of me ...

[Bob]

Originally Posted by 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!

That about sums it up for me!! You said a mouthful there!!

[Bax]

Wow, this is really starting to make me hungry.

Hmmmm....4 dollar soda.......hmmmmm

[BlueHavanaII]

Originally Posted by 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.

I agree wholehartedly! I've been pushing for a junk food tax.. maybe tax candy bars, soft drinks and energy drinks a nickel apeice.

Jim

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by BlueHavanaII

I agree wholehartedly! I've been pushing for a junk food tax.. maybe tax candy bars, soft drinks and energy drinks a nickel apeice.

Jim

Let's see ... candy bars, don't eat em ... soft drinks, prefer sweet tea ... energy drinks, hope coffee doesn't count. Okay ... zero for three ... sounds like a great tax.

[IHT]

as the song "stars and stripes of corruption" by the Dead Kennedy's said, "let's tax religion".

[yayson]

from http://www.crosswalk.com/news/11557095/

Perhaps the hardest hit by the new tobacco tax will be cigar companies. While the federal tax on cigarettes would go up 320 percent, the stogie industry faces a 6,000 percent increase of the federal cigar tax cap. Additionally, the tax rate on wholesale cigars would be bumped from 21 percent of the price to 53 percent.

Last month, the Corona Cigar company issued a press release expressing alarm at the new tax rates and advising consumers to brace for enormous price increases.

"Get ready for a $100 box of Macanudos to go to $180," Corona warned. "A box of Punch Rothschilds to go from $110 a box to $170. And this is a BEST CASE SCENARIO. ... If you live in a state that also has a state cigar tax, you better hold on to your wallets because the price of your cigars may triple."

"[U]nless every one of you doesn't mind paying 53% more for your cigars, the cigar industry is facing a total collapse," stated Corona.

Cigars have historically been taxed less than cigarettes, though a cigar tax is likely seen as politically viable because they are generally enjoyed by wealthier consumers. The average smoker also buys cigars much more occasionally than cigarettes.

Reynolds contended that the hefty cigar prices are long overdue.

"I think the cigar industry has gotten a free ride for decades, and it's time they started paying their fair share in tobacco taxes," he said.

Scary opinion right there, how an American can look at, and justify as positive, a 6000% tax increase on anything is mind boggeling

BTW, in case anyone was wondering I'm nowhere near a "wealthier consumer"

[IHT]

Originally Posted by yayson

from http://www.crosswalk.com/news/11557095/



Scary opinion right there, how an American can look at, and justify as positive, a 6000% tax increase on anything is mind boggeling

BTW, in case anyone was wondering I'm nowhere near a "wealthier consumer"

ditto.
may have to start odering my pipe tobacco from overseas.

[macjoe53]

"The first win is that the cigarette tax will be increased by 61 cents, which will have a significant impact on youth smoking rates," she said. "And the other win is that millions of children, including those with lung disease, will be able to have health insurance as a result."

And just how many of those children are inflicted with lung disease because of smoking?

"Reynolds noted that complications and cancers developed from smoking drove healthcare costs up and added that all Americans could benefit financially from fewer smokers."

No. What drove healthcare costs up were frivolous lawsuits by ambulance chasing lawyers looking to win the lawsuit lottery. That and insurance companies looking to raise their rates to make more profits while seeking to deny rightful coverage.

"But Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor at the Boston University School for Public Health, argued that tobacco taxes were not the most effective way to fund SCHIP.

"I don't dispute the idea that increasing the cigarette tax will reduce smoking," he told Cybercast News Service. "I don't think there's any question about that. But it doesn't make sense to me to permanently tie the financial solvency of children's health insurance to the need to continually increase the number of smokers."

"It's the most politically expedient solution," he said. "Clearly, to expand the program, you've got to get the revenue from somewhere, and I think that this is just the most politically easy target, because it's popular to go after smokers."

A doctor who understands the situation. Obviously in the minority...

And to think Reynolds comes from a family who made their billions off of tobacco. It paid for his upbringing, his college and he is probably still living off his grandparent's money. What an a$$hat.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by IHT

ditto.
may have to start odering my pipe tobacco from overseas.

Heck we could all invest in the Euro and buy with the Euro from the European Union our cigars and probably come out ahead!!

[GOAT LOCKER]

Originally Posted by IHT

ditto.
may have to start odering my pipe tobacco from overseas.

Unfortunately, that will only be a temporary fix. As more folks take this route, the govt will move to further regulate overseas purchases in order to enforce tariffs/taxes. The Credit Card and Shipping Companies will cave to their pressure.

[nimravus01]

This whole thing just makes me mad! I'm at a loss for words!