Please oppose this tax increase

[bigpoppapuff-cl]

Everyone and I mean everyone that even smokes a cigar now and then has to be on alert for messages from all B&M smokeshops AND Internet vendors AND Manufacturers in the next few days regarding the proposed new tax on tobaacco products:

“The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a markup on Tuesday, July 17 on legislation dealing with the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The measure is expected to be reported out of committee. Funding would be almost totally via higher taxes on tobacco products. The cigarette tax will increase by $.61 to $1 per pack effective after December 31, 2007. Other tobacco products would be taxed as follows:

large cigars -- 53.13% of mfr's or importer's sales price but not more than $10.00 per cigar.”

In addition, there will be a floor stocks tax on tobacco products manufactured in the U.S. or imported into the U.S, which are removed before January 1, 2008 and held on that date for sale. The person holding the product on January 1, 2008 is liable for the tax to be paid on or before April 1, 2008.

YES ! You read that right ! $10.00 PER CIGAR, plus whatever your local state tax is. The people in Washington have absolutely no clue about the cigar business. Their sole focus is on cigarettes and we are about to get dragged along with it.

Not only will this put virtually every manufacturer, wholesaler, and retaailer out of business. It will also devastate the economy of Nicaragua, Honduras, The Dominican Republic and have a significant impact on Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Panama, Brasil, and Peru. (Whereupon, I’m sure the USA will be called upon to provide additional relief funding !).

You and everyone else who has any thoughts about continuing to smoke cigars or grow, sort, manufacture, distribute or retail cigars need to make a concerted phone, mail, and e-mail bombardment of Congress very shortly. Hopefully, someone more adept at interpreting this new tax law will supply the proper language for this protest.

Be ready and be vocal, and be outraged because this tax is definitely outrageous. It is my firm belief that if passed as it stands right now the entire industry will collapse prior to April 1,2008 (appropriately named April Fools Day for the Fools we have running the government right now) because no one will have the finances to pay the tax on their inventory.

[Shorty]

... You HAVE to be kidding me...

[ilovecl-cl]

Oh HELL NO!!!!!

[Webmeister]

There are some folks in DC that need to be reminded 2008 is an election year. Unfortunately we can't get em all at the same time. I could go off on a political rant here, but I am exercising self-restraint. I would encourage congress to do the same.

[prophetic_joe]

Wow people are really really stupid sometimes.

[Stogie]

Crap on me!

[Webmeister]

Originally Posted by Stogie

Crap on me!

Looks like Congress is fixin to do just that Stogie!

[Labman-cl]

That's insane...that would put US cigar prices on the same level as Canadian prices. I buy most of my cigars from the States because of the high prices here. Damn...that really sucks!!

[xavier_chino]

holy shit thats crazy. Sid do you have a link to the news story

[bigpoppapuff-cl]

this was a c/p from lew rothman....sorry for not adding that...i am friggin' incensed.....i'll try to find something....mea culpa...

[mikejh-cl]

i doubt it goes through...

[Webmeister]

Found a few articles on this bill...

Bush Veto Foreseen On Child Health Bill
Instead of Cigarette Tax, White House Proposes Employees Be Taxed For Employer-Paid Health Insurance
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3059090.shtml

Congrees, Bush Clash Over Children's Health Insurance
Plans to Renew Program Bog Down as Lawmakers Debate Funding, Philosophy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...071401000.html

White House opposes kids' insurance bill that relies on cigarette tax hike
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...nsurance_N.htm

...and a lot more articles here:
http://search.live.com/news/results.aspx?q=State+Children's+Health+Insurance+P rogram+

Looks like Bush will veto the bill.

-- Mike

[burritosdaily]

Originally Posted by Webmeister

Found a few articles on this bill...

Bush Veto Foreseen On Child Health Bill
Instead of Cigarette Tax, White House Proposes Employees Be Taxed For Employer-Paid Health Insurance
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3059090.shtml

Congrees, Bush Clash Over Children's Health Insurance
Plans to Renew Program Bog Down as Lawmakers Debate Funding, Philosophy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...071401000.html

White House opposes kids' insurance bill that relies on cigarette tax hike
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...nsurance_N.htm

...and a lot more articles here:
http://search.live.com/news/results.aspx?q=State+Children's+Health+Insurance+P rogram+

Looks like Bush will veto the bill.

-- Mike

See, he is not as bad as everyone thinks that he is...:baffled:

[DGreekStallion]

Originally Posted by burritosdaily

See, he is not as bad as everyone thinks that he is...:baffled:

Good thinking!

[mrgatorman]

time will tell....