Cigarette Tax/ Cigarette Taxes/ Cigarette Tax Increase-Cigarette Tax Is Bad For Economy

It seems everytime you turn around there is a new cigarette tax increase. From federal tax on cigarettes to new state tax on cigarettes , The cigarette tax in Florida just happend and they paln to add more new taxes on cigarettes in July , the cost is killing me. I am a smoker and long have been , and with that being said I do understand the theory behind raising taxes on cigarettes. With the rising cost of healthcare and medicine in general , we need a way to offset these expenses , so why not tax the source?

Cigarette smoking has long been a known cause for lung cancer and heart disease. Cancer research is very expensive , not to mention critical , if we ever want to win the battle with this disease, which takes so many lives each year.With that being said I understand the idea behind new state cigarette tax , and raising taxes on cigarettes in general.

Here is one of the problems I see with the current tobacco tax. It is not uniform , and what I mean by that is this. Each state can raise the state tobacco/cigarette tax as it see s a need. A goog example is in Florida as of July 1st Governo Christ has signed a bill raising the state tax on tobacco to 1.34. I personally being a resident of Florida, just got use to paying the additional tax added at the federal level 3 mos. ago. Why the rush to another tax hike? Arent we in a recession? or am I just confused?

On the other hand the state of New York has the highest cigarette tax in the country at 2.75 per pack. I wonder how the residents of New York would feel if their Governor decided to raise tobacco taxes another 1.00 just to cushion the state budget?

The idea here is that if smokers get taxed enough then we will quit. (Tax it to death) If smokers quit smoking the cost of healthcare will go down.This is based on the theory that cigarette smokers cost the healthcare industry 6 billion a year. Maybe the lawmakers have it right? Maybe we will quit smoking as the cost of cigarettes go up? Maybe the healthcare industry can save upwards of 6 billion anually? Do you REALLY think those savings will be passed along to us?

I certainly hope all these new taxes on tobacco products, provide the needed money for our federal , state and local econmies the way the politicians have promised. Id sure hate to think we are bankrolling nicer cars , better jets, and longer vacations for all of those non-smokers in public office.

In closing, I am all for the cure of cancer, and any tobacco related illness, or any illness for that matter. I really do hope these new cigarette taxes are used for the purpose they are collected. I only hope I have a little more time before I find out first hand , beacause as a smoker, these taxes are killing me.