As if lung cancer wasn't enough: Smokers tax going up
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s cigarette tax will go up 75 cents per pack on Tuesday, making it the fifth-highest tax in the country and the most expensive among neighboring states.
Securing the higher tax was part of a one-two punch secured by anti-smoking advocates this year. The other was convincing the Legislature to pass a statewide anti-smoking ban that takes effect on July 5, 2010.
Those who fought for the ban and the tax increase say it provides those looking to quit, like Maurice “Moe” Bird of Waterloo, with more motivation.
Bird, a 41-year-old auto mechanic, used to spend about $30 a week on cigarettes before he quit about two years ago. But a few months later he started smoking cigars, which now cost him about $15 a week.
Bird said he’s going to use the new tax increase as a reason to stop smoking cigars cold turkey.
“I basically can’t afford it,” he said of his habit.
The latest increase, taking the state tax to $2.52 per pack, comes less than two years after a $1 per pack increase in 2008. In April, federal cigarette taxes went up 62 cents to $1.01 per pack.
Taxes on other tobacco products are also going up Tuesday in Wisconsin. The chewing tobacco tax goes up to 100 percent of the manufacturer’s wholesale price and the tax on other tobacco products, including cigars and pipe tobacco, goes from 50 percent to 71 percent of the wholesale price. The amount of the tax will vary depending on the price of each product: the cheaper the tobacco or cigar, the less the tax. However, the tax on cigars is capped at no more than 50 cents per cigar.
“There’s a lot of folks who attempted to quit when the dollar increase went up and they might not have been successful,” said Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of SmokeFree Wisconsin. “This gives them another impetus to try. We know the more you attempt to quit, the more successful you will be.”
Don Marx, a 65-year-old retired elementary school gym teacher, said he quit smoking in 2006 after developing throat cancer. Once he quit, Marx decided to put the $120 a month he had been spending on cigarettes into a separate savings account. He’s tapped the fund four times since to take golf trips to Myrtle Beach.
Marx said he supports the tax increase and hopes it motivates others to follow his example.
“If anything it’s going to hurt the kids who are starting to smoke,” he said.
Nationwide, the average price for a pack of cigarettes is $5.12, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Wisconsin’s cigarette taxes will go from 16th to fifth highest on Tuesday.
While health advocates are heralding the increase, it presents a problem for retailers in businesses along the borders where cigarette taxes are much lower in neighboring states. The per-pack tax is just 98 cents in Illinois, $1.36 in Iowa, $1.50 in Minnesota and $2 in Michigan.
Groups representing Wisconsin grocery and convenience stores, along with gas stations, estimate that the tax increase will cut 25 percent to 40 percent of their non-fuel sales. Ironically, many of the stores are replacing the revenue lost from tobacco sales with healthier alternatives like salads and fresh foods.
“There’s not 25 to 40 percent of the people quitting smoking, obviously,” said Steve Loehr, vice president of operations for Kwik Trip, a convenience store chain with about 355 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. “They’re finding other places to buy cigarettes.”
Stores along Wisconsin’s borders are even more vulnerable to a loss in sales, officials with the groups representing roughly 3,000 stores said. The price difference on a carton of cigarettes in Iowa or Minnesota can be as much as $10 or $15, Loehr said.
The only smokers left are the die-hards who will continue buying no matter how high the taxes, said Julie Yahnke, owner of a Quik Stop in Holmen which is near the Minnesota border. She said she only sells about a carton a day; most buyers in her shop get a pack or two at a time.
Grocery stores are swimming upstream in the competition over cheaper cigarettes across state lines, tribal smoke shops and over the Internet, said Brandon Scholz, president of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. His group represents about 1,000 grocery and convenience stores in the state. Those who pushed for the higher taxes say it’s all about saving lives.
Cigarette smoking results in an estimated 443,000 premature deaths each year, and costs the national economy $193 billion in health care expenses and lost time from work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking is a major contributor to heart disease, cancer and lung disease. The American Cancer Society estimates Wisconsin’s new tax increase will stop 33,000 kids from starting to smoke and motivate 17,000 adults to quit. After the $1 increase in January 2008, calls to the state’s Tobacco Quit Line more than tripled. Busalacchi said her anti-smoking group was trying to publicize resources that are available to help smokers quit.
“If you’re a tobacco user, take advantage of it. Use it as an impetus to quit,” she said of the tax increase. “Get a jump on New Year’s. You’re going to improve your health dramatically.”
And while health advocates hope the higher tax motivates more people to quit lighting up, Gov. Jim Doyle and the Democratic Legislature are counting on the extra $335 million over the next two years to help with the state’s bottom line.
For the current two-year budget, cigarette and tobacco product taxes are nearly 6 percent of all taxes collected at $1.5 billion. That is fourth highest behind income, sales and corporate taxes.
All money raised from cigarette and tobacco taxes goes into the state’s general fund, which is then tapped to pay the majority of expenses related to running state government.
Oct 8, 2009 at 11:06 a.m.
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Can't afford to smoke anymore. Been quit since Monday.
Sep 4, 2009 at 8:42 a.m.
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It would be funny, and good health wise, if lets say 75% of the smokers quit smoking (won't happen), the govt. looses 100's of thousand of dollars in cigarette taxes each year, and then the govt. says, 'hey, we are loosing money and cannot afford to be raising cigarette taxes to sustain our need for money on projects, etc., SO WE MUST LOWER THE CIGARETTE TAXES DOWN TO REASONABLE LEVELS AGAIN TO HAVE INCOME SO WE CAN DO OUR JOB. So, all you smokers, quit immediately if you can and therefore ruin our govt. and their foolish spending. If you won't do it for yourself, do it to ruin the govt.!
Sep 1, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.
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well moco428 you better take a good look at the rising cost of health care and who its caused by.obese people are right up there with smokers,and yet they keep shoveling it right in until their disabled.the mentally ill who get disability and then drink with their meds and want someone to foot the bill,because their drunks with issues.then you suggest that smokers be denied health care,have you lost your mind?the one i like the best is,the ones who get disability because they are drunks or drug addicts,they cant function because of their addiction,and dont know one say that the state doesnt give it to them because they do.my co-workers ex-husband gets disability because hes and alcoholic,now if that isnt a crock,i dont what is.i smoke and thats my choice,but i dont complain about the price because no one is forcing me to buy them,so if youre going to complain about cigarette prices then dont smoke.
Aug 31, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.
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Quote "the reason the taxes are raised on the addictive substances is because the government can optimize their collections without loosing the business. "
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Actually the reason taxes are raised on addictive substances is because the government can get the funding they need without taxing necessities of life, i suppose if they taxed an extra .75 a gallon on milk or baby formula it would be ok? maybe not? how about raising taxes across the board on everything a nickel on a loaf of bread and a nickel on a pack of squares would that be better? no. people need things to survive so the government shys away from overtaxing those, nobody NEEDS cigarettes to survive so why not tax them? i would even be in favor of raising alcohol taxes as well if it lowers the burden on those less fortunate.
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Also, for those who claim that carbon monoxide is just as bad as cigarette smoke therefore we should tax that just as much...do you have any idea what the tax is on a gallon of gas???
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Taxes are the reason we are safe in this country, they are the reason our roads are plowed and murderers are behind bars. I understand your upset that your habit is getting more tax attention than other things, i understand that you try to justify your anger by claiming the government is trying to "Take over" and this will lead to more and more, its the only weak argument that you have when the facts are so blatantly obvious. If you dont like the tax you dont have to pay one cent towards it, simply stop smoking, its not a right, never was, if you like it, pay for it.
Aug 31, 2009 at 8:30 p.m.
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Just Diamond Jim doing his thing again. How many taxes and fees has he increased in his term? I think smoking is a stupid vice, but this "tax it to death" is simply the nanny state trying to tell us all what to do. You may support this because you don't smoke and don't like smoking. I don't smoke, and I don't like smoking, but I oppose this because maybe next time the tax will go up on something I do like to do....like drive my car.
Aug 31, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.
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Smokers are dumb, and smelly.
Aug 31, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
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Zippy_TPH I hope they never legalize pot -never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-never-
Aug 31, 2009 at 4:25 p.m.
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protect the non-smoker from the smoke and the government job is done. taxes are a revenue source and little more. the reason the taxes are raised on the addictive substances is because the government can optimize their collections without loosing the business. addicted people tend to rationalize their purchases regardless on the threat to their or anyone elses health.
Aug 31, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.
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That is a common misconception. The truth is that lives are bought and sold every day. In the purest form, it is called risk assessment, in the crudest it is called politics. Please allow me to introduce myself...
Aug 31, 2009 at 4:13 p.m.
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Quote --"What my point is is that there is always going to be an excuse. If you allow the goverment to continue to control our rights no matter what it is, we will not have anything left to complain about because we have allowed it to happen. While someone has the right not to breathe second hand smoke the other person has a right to smoke. Its a matter of choice and we are losing our choices in life. Wake up America and see what you are doing to each other. Its all about money and when they are finished with the smokers they indeed will go after someone else's bad habbit and then another and another. Stop the insanity!"
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What exactly are you complaining about? what "Right" is the governement taking away from you by this tax? What "choice" has the government taken away from you? If you think that this is what america is all about then you need to go back to 6th grade history class. Taxation has been around since before this country was incorporated, nowhere in the bill of rights does it say that taxation is an infringement on freedom. You dont have to ever pay one cent of this tax if you dont agree with it and that is your "freedom", however your "choice" is to purchase cigarettes so deal with it.
Aug 31, 2009 at 2:19 p.m.
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4got10 ... Are you joking ? You can't put a price on life .
Aug 31, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.
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Moco48 that could be turned around if you do not smoke why do you need health insurance. I smoke I will still smoke as I have spent just as much money trying to quit as I have smoking I will try again I am sure. But until then why do I have to bail out the government? And my freedom is being taken away, what if it was reversed and the non-smokers were taxed for not smoking how would you feel then. Let’s just tax the non- smoker they can afford it.
Aug 31, 2009 at 1:46 p.m.
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I work in healthcare and in insurance and let me tell you a thing about insurance. The smokers are not the only ones why the rates are so high. Most of the smokers are paying their insurance premiums like the rest of us. It is the people who do not have insurance at all that are raising our rates. They cant afford their doctor bills so the state picks it up or it is written off and then passed on to the consumer and the state pays crap for reimbursement to the providers. Again smokers alone do not raise your healthcare cost. And anyone who files a claim, guess what it gets passed on to someone else. Check again at our goverment, and the non insureds and the obese people who get surgery to remove the fat and the people who are mentally ill and on disability because they are have a drinking problem or an anger problem and abuse someone etc. The list can go on and on. Yes lung cancer is a small piece of it, but people get all kinds of cancers not from smoking, they have aids, they have heart disease, they have high cholesterol, they have diabetes, the list can go on and on and rates for healthcare/insurance will continue to go up. OMG get a grip people
Aug 31, 2009 at 1:12 p.m.
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I'd be ok being denied health care for smoking related illnesses. Until then, I'm gonna live until I die, and I'll buy my smokes in Illinois, as usual.
Aug 31, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
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Maybe all of you that keep making reasons for smoking to be okay should be denied health insurance! You are causing billions in health care issues that keep raising our insurance rates. How is that fair to the rest of us? If you want to pay the tax and smoke also remove yourself from the insurance pool. Maybe we should even turn you down at the hospital door, after all it is all by choice.
Okay, I was over the top a bit but the point is that it is a drain on the health and insurance industry and they pass the cost onto everyone else.
Aug 31, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
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4got10: You got it right. Grocery & convenience stores estimate 25-40% decrease in store sales. But the stores will offer healthy choices like salads to make up for lost revenue. Cig sales make up 6% of Wi revenue budget.
Aug 31, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.
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Again here my words. There are always going to be smokers. Doesnt matter if you make it $100 per pack someone will pay it. What everyone is failing to see is we are not a free country anymore and yes while people have died from smoking, so have people from being overweight, breathing the crappy air all around us not contributed from smokers, such as car fumes, and agriculture etc, people die from drunk drivers and from mis handleing guns.
What my point is is that there is always going to be an excuse. If you allow the goverment to continue to control our rights no matter what it is, we will not have anything left to complain about because we have allowed it to happen. While someone has the right not to breathe second hand smoke the other person has a right to smoke. Its a matter of choice and we are losing our choices in life. Wake up America and see what you are doing to each other. Its all about money and when they are finished with the smokers they indeed will go after someone else's bad habbit and then another and another. Stop the insanity!
Aug 31, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.
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then move to Illinois to while you are at it.
Aug 31, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.
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and boo hoo about the unemployed tobacco producers. I don't hear anyone worrying about the millions of jobs that would be lost if the anti-gunners get their way and eliminate the firearms industry. I can protect myself and others with their products at least. They also keep everyone of us safe by supplying the Military, secret service and police agencies around the world.
Aug 31, 2009 at 11:51 a.m.
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no one is saying they should outlaw Tobacco, I think so after watching my mother die from it, however, it is your right to smoke if you want to. It is also my right to breath smoke free air. If you want to smoke, pay the tax, if you don't want to pay the tax then stop smoking. A simple as that. I am sick of hearing the smokers bitch about being oppressed. I seem to remember every pot head here wishing they would legalize Marijuana, would you gladly pay a high tax for your precious legal pot?? I think you would. So shut up and pay your tax on smokes to. I will continue to remember taking the oxygen mask off my dead mother after she was killed by BIG tobacco.
Aug 31, 2009 at 10:21 a.m.
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Has anyone stopped to think of all the unemployment that will result when the tobacco industry crashes? That will be our next government bailout & I'm willing to be there will be a lot of folks mad about that one!
Aug 31, 2009 at 9:35 a.m.
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Wow, we call ourselves america the free?? By whose standards. My parents both died of cancer and neither one of them smoked. SO go ahead and bash the smokers and tell them how bad it is for their health but remember I am sure there is a bad habit out there each and everyone of you has and one day it will be attacked such as all the fat people in the world who need to lose weight and stop eating all the junk food, or the booze that people are drinking and and what about the chemicals the farmers are using or that is in the air we are breathing. None of it is safe. Why dont we just lock everyone up, take away any freedoms they have and control everything they put in their mouth and body cause that is going to solve all the healthcare issues, and the debt our country is in!
GIVE ME A BREAK AMERICA
Aug 31, 2009 at 9:17 a.m.
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Good post Hankhill, I agree with EVERYTHING you said. I drink beer occasionally and would be in favor of a higher tax on alcohol if it saved someones life! You don't have to pay the tax! if you don't want to support big Gov. then stop smoking! or drinking, they are not essential to life! and you do not NEED to do it to survive. I would not pay the higher tax, but I agree that it should be imposed. I do not agree with all the taxes that are imposed on us that we cannot get out of! I am almost to the point of not being able to afford my property taxes here in Janesville because they go almost every year because of all the school improvements!!! I don't have kids! I don't use the schools! Leave my property out of it for once.
Aug 31, 2009 at 7:42 a.m.
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As a former smoker(just 6 months ago) I cannot believe how high this tax is! Even if I WANTED to smoke now, I couldn't AFFORD it!!! It wouldn't even be possible! So it's actually keeping me from ever starting again. I am a huge fan of WI going smoke free next year. Even as a smoker I used to HATE going into any bars or bowling alleys knowing what I would smell like when I came home. And now its unbearable. I am glad now in about a year, I can go to a bar and enjoy a drink without leaving smelling like an ashtray. Go WI! And way to go smoke free!
Aug 31, 2009 at 7:07 a.m.
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food is can be an addiction just like Tobacco, however unlike Tobacco, obese people have to use the very thing they are addicted to in order to live! Tobacco users can quit and never have to use it again. Obese people with food addictions have to try to kick the habit while still eating to live!
Aug 31, 2009 at 6:28 a.m.
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Internal combustion is absolutely necessary for the average person to get where they need to go. sure there are other options, none feasable enough to get a pregnant wife to the ER at midnight fast enough.
Aug 31, 2009 at 6:24 a.m.
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Your right, transportation IS necessary.
Tobacco, alcohol, and internal combustion are not.
Aug 31, 2009 at 6:10 a.m.
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Last time i checked i didnt have to hop on my pack of smokes to drive to work to support my family. Last time i checked i didnt have to hop on my cigarette at 3am to take my screaming 3 year old to the emergency room.
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Vehicles are a necessary evil in this world, cigarettes are not. try again.
Aug 31, 2009 at 6:04 a.m.
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That brings up Stupid Human Trick #2-Internal Combustion.
Do people that are concerned about second hand tobacco smoke believe that tobacco smoke makes up even a single percent of the pollution we breathe in every breath?
If we really want to make a difference in air quality, we should ban the use of infernal combustion.
Tobacco smoke is avoidable, but try to take away someones 6000lb smog monster?
Aug 31, 2009 at 5:46 a.m.
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Guess what, Driving while drunk is ALREADY illegal so dont compare it to your smoking which involuntarily affects other peoples lungs, just like that person got involuntarily killed by the drunk driver. Drunk driving is illegal, why shouldnt smoking be?
Aug 31, 2009 at 5:41 a.m.
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The smoking ban is a go next year. Now it's time to ban public drinking, as it is a leading cause of death in Wisconsin.
Another DUI victim, pedestrian crossing E. Wash last Sunday.
http://www.channel3000.com/news/20632192...
Stupid Human Trick #12-Public drinking establishments with parking lots.
Aug 31, 2009 at 5:36 a.m.
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illinois tax is only 98 cents. AHHH the benefits of living in Beloit where the stateline runs right through the city.
Aug 31, 2009 at 3:56 a.m.
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Smoking cigarettes has proven to cause increase health costs in our nation. Some people do not have adequate insurance, thereby creating debt that hospitals have to eat.
You think this tax is outrageous, wait until you have lung cancer (or some other disease caused by cigarettes) and see how much it costs you THEN.
Aug 31, 2009 at 3:54 a.m.
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The title of this article is oxymoronic...
Cigarettes CAUSE lung cancer..this tax may PREVENT people from smoking as much or even starting at all, thereby PREVENTING lung cancer. I am all for whatever it takes to keep patients from dieing of lung cancer. I have had patients who have died from this disease as a direct result from smoking, and it is not an easy way to die.
Aug 31, 2009 at 3:51 a.m.
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Cigarettes CAUSE lung cancer..this tax may PREVENT people from smoking as much or even starting at all, thereby PREVENTING lung cancer. I am all for whatever it takes to keep patients from dieing of lung cancer. I have had patients who have died from this disease as a direct result from smoking, and it is not an easy way to die.
Aug 31, 2009 at 3:37 a.m.
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This tax is unbelievable. If it were on any other item people would be picketing the capital. I am so sick of big government telling me how to live my life. I am disgusted with our elected officials. And just where is all this money being spent, the general fund, what does that mean, whatever Doyle feels like approving that day? I am a smoker, I dont do it in restaurants or around kids. My second hand smoke only hurts the trees in my backyard. I will quit when I am ready and I am about there. However, quitting is not as easy as a nonsmoker would like to think. I am not willing to give up my free will as long as there are so many other vices out there that are not being challenged and if you regulate those too where is our liberty. Goverment leave us alone! Do something valuable like figuring out how to get out of Iraq.
Aug 31, 2009 at 1:22 a.m.
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I'm not a smoker, but I think its wrong to tax people for smoking.
I drink soda, its unhealthy, should there be an extra tax?
Its called a "sin-tax." The government taxes things they dont want people to do, cigarettes and alcohol.
And they want to make weed legal? Could you imagine the tax on that!?
Aug 30, 2009 at 11:44 p.m.
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well heres the deal.believe me they dont want us to quit smoking,the state would lose millions,they know we will pay it it.as suggested above,go to the neiboring state.buy everything there u can,file exempt on your state taxes if you are able.dont spend any money in this state that you dont have to.also as with smoking,obesity also causes a drain on the health care, so now we need a "fat"tax. obesity leads to serious health problems,so therefore if a person is over weight they should not be allowed to continue endangering their health,and be the cause of rising health care.so now we need a statewide "fat"ban.hell ban everything in this state thats bad for you.we need to get rid of artificial sweeteners also,so no diet pop anymore either.now that im done venting, i can sit here and laugh.this state has gone to hell in a hand basket,oh dont forget the wining of "im tired of being called the ashtray of the midwest"dont worry wisconsin is mainly called the crap hole of the midwest.lol I cant wait until what they deem unhealthy next according to our government here.
Aug 30, 2009 at 10:51 p.m.
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Quit smoking and quit complaining about the cost of cigarettes. Do something better with your life. Support the American Lung Association.
Aug 30, 2009 at 10:12 p.m.
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I purpose a 90% tax increase on all Government employees in addition to a 60% pay cut..They can use it as an impetus to quit stealing from us for stupid non essential pork projects and slush fund activities.
Aug 30, 2009 at 10:06 p.m.
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Why not add more tax for stinky types of perfume that gives most of us a HUGE headach? You know the kind - midnight in the pasture. How about candles that have a scent - juniper on fire or some that smell like it coule be agent orange? What about the Twinkie tax or put the squeeze Chester Cheetah?
I am so tired of smokers and the health issues involved too but why does Diamond Jim Doyle the lay so much of that financial burden on one group of people? Cigarettes are not illegal - they are not contraband.
I am NOT intending this to be mean or hurtful as I have to watch what I eat daily but....obesity is more financial drain on healthcare than most smokers.
Aug 30, 2009 at 9:20 p.m.
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If you dont like the tax, dont smoke, plain and simple.
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Dont sit here coming up with analogy after analogy of how it does or should appply to other vices of life.
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I say again, if you dont like it dont smoke, If you enjoy smoking enough to pay the tax then good, im happy for you but dont complain about it.
Aug 30, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.
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I quit smoking when a pack of cigarettes were $.25, that has been more that 30 years ago and I quit drinking when a bottle of beer was $.50 and that was better that 15 years ago. Why don't the government tax $2.52 a bottle of beer and tax hard liquor the same. A drunk driver kills people as well as people with second hand smoke. The government ups the penalty for drunk drivers but they don't up the liquor tax. They up the cigarette tax so people will quit smoking so why don't they up the liquor tax so people will quit drinking.
Aug 30, 2009 at 8:39 p.m.
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After the $1/pack increase last year, there were news stories talking about how so many people were quitting because of it. So, I'm curious just how much the insurance rates have come down with all of those healthier people?
Really, now, does anyone REALLY think that if tobacco were outlawed tomorrow insurance rates would come down? NOT A CHANCE! That's just a talking point, absent any reality in potential outcomes.
Aug 30, 2009 at 8:31 p.m.
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kawisixer01 - well said
Aug 30, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.
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So janesvillian what next? You know the next leading cause of death and unhealthiness in the US is obesity right? Once they get their way and get rid of smoking should we move on to "fattening foods"? Tax the heck out soda, candy, or whatever else the government doesn't think is healthy for you. It's interesting the amount of people that are against govt. run health care but want the govt. to take their hand and tell them what to eat, what to drink, and how to live. Maybe you like losing liberty but I do not. Wait until some pencil neck at the government decides that your livestyle is "unhealthy" and should you should be taxed out of it.
Aug 30, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.
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Well, the people with the filthy habit make health insurance more expensive for everybody -- it's only fair they should help keep our taxes down.
Aug 30, 2009 at 6:56 p.m.
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one of the most highly addictive drugs known to man and completely legal. its OK for free americans to consume this drug cuz the bene's to uncle sams pocket book are to ginormous and apparently outweigh the negatives to the user...even tho the potential negatives to the user is DEATH. hypocrisy.
ummmmm when everyone gets taxed out of smoking tobacco i have an idea for something that A LOT of peeps would be happy to pay some tax on.
Aug 30, 2009 at 6:49 p.m.
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I can't wait for the dome head to leave. he has messed up this state so bad we will never get out of the hole he has created. I hope he gets on his train and leaves for good. the only problem is the train is already derailed.....not enough tax money to support it.........I owe , I owe ......It's off to work I go.......
Aug 30, 2009 at 6:44 p.m.
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well said glock
Aug 30, 2009 at 6:31 p.m.
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skinnypuppy
Aug 30, 2009 at 5:03 p.m.
Suggest removal And when everyone is "taxed" into quitting smoking, where will the gov. get its 1.5 billion dollar state gov. running fund from? What will go up next? Probably the most sure fire way to get it back would be to tax the crap out of beer and brats here in WI... watch out you tailgaters
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And we owe Gov.Doyle-Judy Robson-& Tammy Baldwin - for losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of tobacco tax money to other States .
Aug 30, 2009 at 6:25 p.m.
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I smoked 2-3 packs a day for quite awhile, then I witnessed both my mom and step-dad die from smoking, it's not a pretty way to go. I stopped cold turkey after that. If raising the tax on tobacco keeps 1 person from dying drowning in their own lung goo, then I am all for it! Make it illegal then watch our health care insurance come down and then Obama can stuff his bill up his backside!!
Aug 30, 2009 at 5:46 p.m.
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That's telling them Okie. Quitting is easy. It takes a real man to face cancer.
Aug 30, 2009 at 5:42 p.m.
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To me it seems like all the people that smoke are the ones that can't afford it or have health issues. I know one guy that smokes four packs a day and has serious health issues- including blood pressure,heart,circulation and diabetes problems. He's in his fifties and is on social security. The kicker is his wife has just as serious health issues and smokes even more than him! Drive downtown through the poor sections and everyone is smoking! I got customers that can't afford to pay their bills but continue to smoke.
I figure if you smoke it's probably about a $10 a day habit( pack and a half). Now if a husband and wife both smoke that's $600 a month! That's a nice house payment!
Aug 30, 2009 at 5:28 p.m.
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If an everyday smoker smokes one pack of cigarettes a day, that's $210/mo when cigarettes are $7 a pack. A typical everyday pot smoker might smoke an ounce a month for about $100. That makes cigarette smoking more than twice as expensive as smoking pot.
Aug 30, 2009 at 5:03 p.m.
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And when everyone is "taxed" into quitting smoking, where will the gov. get its 1.5 billion dollar state gov. running fund from? What will go up next? Probably the most sure fire way to get it back would be to tax the crap out of beer and brats here in WI... watch out you tailgaters!
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