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This is a discussion on Please oppose this tax increase within the Tobacco Legislation forums, part of the The Cigar Lounges at Puff category; I just read this over at HP and those guys are going nucking futs over the issue. I'm confused! I ...
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07-17-2007, 11:00 AM
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#31 |
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Full grown Puffer Fish
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I just read this over at HP and those guys are going nucking futs over the issue. I'm confused! I know it's just a matter of time before we (cigar smokers) get hammered......Until then I'm gonna smoke like there's no tomorrow!......There may not be.......
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07-17-2007, 11:01 AM
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#32 | |
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Puffer Fish with some spikes
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Quote:
Fish |
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07-17-2007, 11:21 AM
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#33 |
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Newbie in the ocean
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latest link from Drudge
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07-17-2007, 11:46 AM
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#34 |
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Full grown Puffer Fish
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Socialists (i.e. Democrats) are proving to be true to their heritage. The tobacco tax is only the beginning. Only a matter of time before they move on to beer, wine & liquor.
póg mo thóin |
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07-17-2007, 02:00 PM
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#35 |
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Leading Puffer Fish
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St. Petersberg Times
Cigarmakers in a panic The federal tax on each cigar could rise from 5 cents to $10. By JAMES THORNER Published July 17, 2007 Eric Newman punches the numbers on his calculator and gapes at the results one more time. It's no mathematical error: The federal government has proposed raising taxes on premium cigars, the kind Newman's family has been rolling for decades in Ybor City, by as much as 20,000 percent. As part of an increase in tobacco taxes designed to pay for children's health insurance, the nickel-per-cigar tax that has ruled the industry could rise to as much as $10 per cigar. "I'm not sure in the history of man, since our forefathers founded the country in 1776, that there's ever been a tax increase of 20,000 percent," said Newman, who runs the Tampa business founded by grandfather Julius Caesar Newman. "They had the Boston Tea Party for less than this." When it comes to tobacco sales, cigars are just a speck compared to cigarettes. In 2006, the nearly 400-billion cigarettes sold domestically dwarfed the 5.3-billion cigars. But cigars are intertwined with Tampa's lineage. Though the local industry has shriveled from foreign competition and domestic consolidation, cigarmaking still employs more than 1,000 in Tampa. About 900 work at the factory, offices and warehouse of Hav-a-Tampa, owned by foreign tobacco giant Altadis. Newman machine-makes 35,000 cigars a day at 16th Street and Columbus Avenue and imports hand-wrapped varieties from Latin America. He estimates Florida makes or imports 80 percent of the cigars consumed in the United States and predicts devastation if the new taxes are approved this summer. Many casual smokers are well heeled enough to plunk down $10 for a premium puff. But would they pay $15 to $20 for the same pleasure? "Why don't we just go out of business?" Newman said. "Here, you can run our company, Mr. Government." Here's the source of the controversy: The Democrat controlled Congress has sought an extra $35-billion to $50-billion for the state children's health insurance program. The program distributes payments to the states to help buy coverage for kids not poor enough for Medicaid. Cigarettes, which accounted for more than 95 percent of tobacco tax collections last year, are the main focus of the bill. Federal taxes on a pack would jump from 39 cents to $1. But the legislation has dragged cigars along for the ride. The industry operates under a 4.8 cents-per-cigar tax cap. Under the proposed bill, taxes on "large cigars," a category that includes all but the tiny cigars sold in 20 packs like cigarettes, would rise to 53 percent. A U.S. Senate version of the bill under consideration today in the Finance Committee sets the maximum tax per cigar at $10. "We are a very small industry. We're the fly. The cigarette industry is the elephant as far as tax collections are concerned," Newman said. "We've been roped in with conglomerates that own cigarette companies." Newman's eyes and ears in Washington, Norm Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America, was dumbfounded when the legislation went public Friday. "I thought there was a typo. I thought they meant 10 cents per cigar, not $10 per cigar. I was stunned like everyone else," Sharp said. Sharp's organization represents 66 members, including Newman, Altadis and Jacksonville's Swisher International, the global company that makes Swisher Sweets. The association has lobbied to exclude cigars from the bill, but bristles at the public relations challenge: How do you oppose a sin tax Congress has rigged to help sick kids? Senate staffers couldn't be reached for comment. In Newman's view other companies declined comment and left the talking to Sharp, it's not just unfair but also immoral to overtax a product enjoyed not by addicts but by worthy pleasure seekers. The average aficionado smokes about three cigars a week at about $3 to $5 apiece, according to the cigar association. "A good wine. A good scotch. A good bourbon. A good cigar. It all enhances the quality of life," Newman said. "We're in the relaxation business." The Bush administration may inadvertently come to the industry's aid. The president has vowed to veto the bill, not over the cigar provision but over objections to expanding federally financed health care for the non-indigent. Several business in and around Ybor City, usually blind to the workings of Washington, will be craning their necks toward the capital. "Things happen strangely in Washington," Newman said. Fast Facts Taxing tobacco To pay for children's health insurance, the federal government has proposed raising tobacco taxes. Cigars 2006 sales: 5.3-billion Current tax: 5 cents/cigar Proposed tax: up to $10/cigar Percent increase: up to 20,000 In 2006, excise taxes from cigarettes brought the federal government $7.4-billion. Cigars brought in $225-million.
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boo-yah!!! "don't count your days...make every day count" |
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07-17-2007, 02:39 PM
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#36 |
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Puffer Fish with many spikes
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Senator Gerdon H. Smith (Republican-OR)
Here is a Press Release regarding the tobacco tax.
Contact: Kimberly Collins Phone: 202 224-5364 Email This Print This Budget Leaves Door Open for Increased Tobacco Tax to Pay for Children’s Health Care May 18th, 2007 - Washington, DC - Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) expressed his disappointment today that his amendment to authorize an increase in the federal tobacco tax to fund the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which passed by a vote of 59-40 in the Senate earlier this year, was not included in the final 2008 Budget. The budget however does not restrict the use of the tobacco tax to fund the program which provides health care coverage for low-income children. “Although I am disappointed that my tobacco tax amendment was not included in the final budget measure, the fight is certainly not over. An increase in the federal tobacco tax will take us beyond simply talking about helping children to actually delivering the real dollars to make a difference. This policy is supported by over 50 organizations and is the only large-scale funding source that has strong bi-partisan support. I plan to work with my colleagues on the Finance Committee to see that this policy is a part of any SCHIP reauthorization package to ensure America’s children have access to care.” The SCHIP program is set to expire at the end of 2007. Without adequate funds to continue the program, children currently enrolled in SCHIP would lose coverage by the end of this year. Senator Smith’s amendment would provide the funding needed for those children currently enrolled in the SCHIP program to maintain coverage and to expand coverage for more low-income children and pregnant women. The Senate Finance Committee, on which Senator Smith sits, is expected to consider the reauthorization of the SCHIP program this spring. An increase of 61 cents (total of one dollar) on the federal excise tax on tobacco products is estimated to generate $35 billion in funds for the SCHIP program. Senator Smith’s goals for the program is to ensure all those who are currently enrolled continue to receive coverage, cover those currently eligible, but not enrolled, and expand coverage to all pregnant women and children up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($27,380 for a family of two). If additional funds exist, Senator Smith would like the program to expand coverage for pregnant women and children up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($41,070 for a family of two). Here is additional link: http://www.jointogether.org/news/hea...r-61-cent.html |
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07-17-2007, 02:58 PM
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#37 |
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Puffer Fish with many spikes
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Article on $10.00 Tax
Here is an article from today.... here is the link if you want to see the graphics.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/17/Bu...n_a_pani.shtml Cigarmakers in a panic The federal tax on each cigar could rise from 5 cents to $10. By JAMES THORNER Published July 17, 2007 Eric Newman punches the numbers on his calculator and gapes at the results one more time. It's no mathematical error: The federal government has proposed raising taxes on premium cigars, the kind Newman's family has been rolling for decades in Ybor City, by as much as 20,000 percent. As part of an increase in tobacco taxes designed to pay for children's health insurance, the nickel-per-cigar tax that has ruled the industry could rise to as much as $10 per cigar. "I'm not sure in the history of man, since our forefathers founded the country in 1776, that there's ever been a tax increase of 20,000 percent," said Newman, who runs the Tampa business founded by grandfather Julius Caesar Newman. "They had the Boston Tea Party for less than this." When it comes to tobacco sales, cigars are just a speck compared to cigarettes. In 2006, the nearly 400-billion cigarettes sold domestically dwarfed the 5.3-billion cigars. But cigars are intertwined with Tampa's lineage. Though the local industry has shriveled from foreign competition and domestic consolidation, cigarmaking still employs more than 1,000 in Tampa. About 900 work at the factory, offices and warehouse of Hav-a-Tampa, owned by foreign tobacco giant Altadis. Newman machine-makes 35,000 cigars a day at 16th Street and Columbus Avenue and imports hand-wrapped varieties from Latin America. He estimates Florida makes or imports 80 percent of the cigars consumed in the United States and predicts devastation if the new taxes are approved this summer. Many casual smokers are well heeled enough to plunk down $10 for a premium puff. But would they pay $15 to $20 for the same pleasure? "Why don't we just go out of business?" Newman said. "Here, you can run our company, Mr. Government." Here's the source of the controversy: The Democrat controlled Congress has sought an extra $35-billion to $50-billion for the state children's health insurance program. The program distributes payments to the states to help buy coverage for kids not poor enough for Medicaid. Cigarettes, which accounted for more than 95 percent of tobacco tax collections last year, are the main focus of the bill. Federal taxes on a pack would jump from 39 cents to $1. But the legislation has dragged cigars along for the ride. The industry operates under a 4.8 cents-per-cigar tax cap. Under the proposed bill, taxes on "large cigars," a category that includes all but the tiny cigars sold in 20 packs like cigarettes, would rise to 53 percent. A U.S. Senate version of the bill under consideration today in the Finance Committee sets the maximum tax per cigar at $10. "We are a very small industry. We're the fly. The cigarette industry is the elephant as far as tax collections are concerned," Newman said. "We've been roped in with conglomerates that own cigarette companies." Newman's eyes and ears in Washington, Norm Sharp, president of the Cigar Association of America, was dumbfounded when the legislation went public Friday. "I thought there was a typo. I thought they meant 10 cents per cigar, not $10 per cigar. I was stunned like everyone else," Sharp said. Sharp's organization represents 66 members, including Newman, Altadis and Jacksonville's Swisher International, the global company that makes Swisher Sweets. The association has lobbied to exclude cigars from the bill, but bristles at the public relations challenge: How do you oppose a sin tax Congress has rigged to help sick kids? Senate staffers couldn't be reached for comment. In Newman's view other companies declined comment and left the talking to Sharp, it's not just unfair but also immoral to overtax a product enjoyed not by addicts but by worthy pleasure seekers. The average aficionado smokes about three cigars a week at about $3 to $5 apiece, according to the cigar association. "A good wine. A good scotch. A good bourbon. A good cigar. It all enhances the quality of life," Newman said. "We're in the relaxation business." The Bush administration may inadvertently come to the industry's aid. The president has vowed to veto the bill, not over the cigar provision but over objections to expanding federally financed health care for the non-indigent. Several business in and around Ybor City, usually blind to the workings of Washington, will be craning their necks toward the capital. "Things happen strangely in Washington," Newman said. James Thorner can be reached at (813) 226-3313 or thorner@sptimes.com. [Last modified July 16, 2007, 23:35  2] |
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07-17-2007, 03:00 PM
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#38 |
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Puffer Fish with many spikes
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Sorry Bigpoppapuff...didn't know you had already posted the article...I only read the first page of threads.
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07-17-2007, 03:19 PM
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#39 |
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Young Puffer Fish
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Just got off the phone with my Senators. I'm also trying to recruit people to call in my office as we have MANY more cigarette smokers than cigar smokers. Their call counts too!
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07-17-2007, 03:30 PM
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#40 |
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CL Mentor
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Try this: http://capwiz.com/rtda/home/
It should link you to the RTDA site where you can write a letter and post it one time to Bush, both senators and your rep. It will even find your representatives if you don't know who they are. |
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07-17-2007, 10:30 PM
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#41 | |
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Young Fish
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Quote:
This is an EASY way to get to both senators and BUSH with pre-typed e-mails and letters...over and over and over again...here's my post on another board: got an e-mail from ET (here), CI, Holts, Thompson, JR, and even submitted an e-mail on RTDA.org with an e-mail to both my senators and Pres Bush. RTDA actually has some easy click and drag talk tracks that they will automatically send based on your Zip to your senators and Bush. Go here http://rtda.org/legislation.html and enter you zip. Once you enter your zip click on "click here" under "stop the federal tobacco tax increase". Select your response and who to send it to and it'll go. You'll get a follow up e-mail confirming your e-mail. I aslo signed up and asked for updates on legislation via e-mail. I know many BOTL here frequent other boards so PLEASE feel free to just cut and paste or better yet link to this post. Jim PS I've done it at least 3 times now. |
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07-17-2007, 10:39 PM
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#42 |
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Maturing Puffer Fish
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If you want to have an impact on your senators or representative, I would strongly urge you to either telephone or compose your own e-mail. Elected officials rarely pay any attention these days to mass mailings, either postal or electronic. They're just to easy to orchestrate and it's not possible to tell how many people are really represented. You should also check to see if one of your senators is on the Finance Committee, which is scheduled to mark up the bill Wednesday afternoon. They will be crucial in the final form the legislation takes.
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07-17-2007, 10:51 PM
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#43 |
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Puffer Fish with many spikes
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I just e-mail my reps. today and will be calling tomarrow. I still can't believe that they would do something like this.
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07-17-2007, 11:51 PM
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#44 |
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Puffer Fish with some spikes
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Email or call your two senators right now and intelligently voice your opposition to this legislation right now. Don't wait. I sent the email and called mine. This is funking crazy sshit. 20000 % increase for cigars is crazy. We as cigar smokers are a big lobby so if we email and call we will be heard. If it passes hopefully it will be voted, but lets's not let it pass just to be sure. Just google "us senate" to get the web address.
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-- Erik The Bruce |
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07-18-2007, 12:09 AM
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#45 | |
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Elder Puffer Fish Leader
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Received this email from CI today. Thought it might be useful to you guys. Please don't let the States go down the same road Canada did. This proposed tax increase is ridiculous!! Anyways, here it is:
Quote:
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[SIZE="1"]Canadian CigarLive Smack-Talk Member #1[/SIZE] ----"I'm gonna bomb you good! No wait...I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Friends?" 
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