Florida Cigarette Tax Update
Florida Republicans are having a nightmare. For years they have ran on an anti-tax platform. They are forced to squirm over the possibility over the possibility of raising cigarette tax. The Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee voted unanimously to move SB 1840 for a floor vote. The tax on a pack of cigarattes will go up a dollar. Cigarettes will also be taxed by bulk.
210.011 Cigarette surcharge levied; collection.—
(1) A surcharge, in addition to all other taxes of every kind levied by law, is levied upon the sale, receipt, purchase, possession, consumption, handling, distribution, and use of cigarettes in this state, in the following amounts, except as otherwise provided in subsections
(2) and
(3), for cigarettes of standard dimensions:
(a) Upon all cigarettes weighing not more than 3 pounds per thousand, 5 cents on each cigarette.
(b) Upon all cigarettes weighing more than 3 pounds per thousand and not more than 6 inches long, 10 cents on each cigarette.
(c) Upon all cigarettes weighing more than 3 pounds per thousand and more than 6 inches long, 20 cents on each cigarette.
The House is likely to vote down the cigarette tax. Gov. Charlie Crist has skillfully avoided answering if he would sign the cigarette tax into law.
Side note: anyone else bothered by Crist's support of user fees but not taxes. Talk about double standards.
Update: Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff worries the cigaratte tax will hurt the junk food market.
"Twenty-two percent of all sales in convenience stores are cigarettes. We need to look at everything. IF they don't go in to buy cigarettes, they don't buy the coke. They don't buy the chips.''
It certainly is the most entertaining anti-cigarette tax argument. I give Bogdanoff points on originality.
Labels: charlie crist, ellyn bogdanoff, florida senate, sales taxes
posted by Michael Hussey @ 5:05 PM
16 Comments
16 Comments:
what a joke, sales taxes have fallen to record lo's so just add another tax to the low income people what a country!!!!!!!
This is very interesting read, thanks for sharing the knowledge with all of us. Appreciate your thoughts.
WHY DON'T THEY JUST TAX TOILET PAPER...SOMETHING "EVERYONE" USES!!
What a joke. The geniuses in Tallahasse think they can fill budget gaps by raising a regressive tax on a small portion of the population. Is that even constitutional? Whatever happened to equal representation under the law? People who think that this policy will be successful are fools. I just hope that they realize that this new tax and the programs it funds are unsustainable. People will quit, buy blackmarket cigarettes, or roll their own. I am surprised that it passed unanimously, seeing as it is a regressive tax, affecting low income people more than high earners. I thought all of our bleeding heart leaders cared more about the little people.
My question is... why? Why raise taxes on somethings that people do BY CHOICE. We are already a smoke free Florida. Restaurants and most houses for rent will not allow you to smoke. So what, smoke outside. But why raise cigerettes taxes $20.00 in 3 months? All of the comments about low income families being affected are somewhat true. I suppose the majority of smokers are low income, and I myself am a smoker too; however, I can make do with this ridiculous tax. I agree with the rolling of your own cigarettes.
Speaking of things that can kill... What about alcohol? Or sugar? People die of being overwieght EVERYDAY. People die of Alcohol abuse EVERDAY. Where is their tax?! Florida has some of the cheapest beer around. This is a way to make money off of people who don't pay as much taxes. They are using the excuse of 'saving the children' to make millions of dollars to save this state. Well, Maybe if this state did a little more with the immigrants and illegals we would not be dealing with the unemployment rate at a record high. Raise the state tax, if you want to make money. That way EVERYONE has to pay. Don't just single out one grouping of consumers and tax the shit out of them. I am not going to quit smoking. I will do so when I see fit, not when the government wants me too. How do I get a hold of these so called blackmarket cigerettes? Maybe a trip to Cancun is in order...there is a limit on how many cartons I can buy, but... :P So there Florida. Not so slick after all.
This is insane to me. The taxes on cigarettes and even the e cig is going too far!
I am surprised that it passed unanimously, seeing as it is a regressive tax, affecting low income people more than high earners. I thought all of our bleeding heart leaders cared more about the little people.
Why raise taxes on somethings that people do BY CHOICE. We are already a smoke free Florida. Restaurants and most houses for rent will not allow you to smoke.
@Neil Kornswiet
The best way the legislature and Governor and legislative branch can raise revenue and still call themselves anti-tx is with cigarettes. You asked. I answered.
I just hope that they realize that this new tax and the programs it funds are unsustainable.
People die of Alcohol abuse EVERDAY. Where is their tax?! Florida has some of the cheapest beer around. This is a way to make money off of people who don't pay as much taxes. They are using the excuse of 'saving the children' to make millions of dollars to save this state.
I just hope that they realize that this new tax and the programs it funds are unsustainable. People will quit, buy blackmarket cigarettes, or roll their own. I am surprised that it passed unanimously, seeing as it is a regressive tax, affecting low income people more than high earners.
Florida has some of the cheapest beer around. This is a way to make money off of people who don't pay as much taxes. They are using the excuse of 'saving the children' to make millions of dollars to save this state.
Twenty-two percent of all sales in convenience stores are cigarettes.
I hope that all of the people realize that the new tax and the programs it funds are unsustainable because the money will not be there forever.
We love how https://www.ecassoc.org is pro e cigs..saving lives.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home