proposition 29 from california

[wingrider]

The proposal would greatly increase the excise tax on cigars and other products that fall into the OTP category in California from 31.73 percent of the wholesale cost to 54.89 percent.
For the past two years, the state’s Board of Equalization, which controls tobacco taxation, had decreased the OTP tax. In 2010, the board lowered the tax from 41.11 percent to 33.02 percent, and the tax was again decreased last year to its current 31.73 percent

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfe.../show/id/16465


I feel tor the smokers in California.. I am not sure if this passed or not .. if any of you know please update this thread for me..it is getting to the point that if you are going to smoke you better start growing your own tobacco and learn how to roll your own cigars

[Conley]

Fear not Wing, looks like it'll be defeated (but it's close)

Asking voters to slap a $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research seems like a cinch in health-crazy California, where lighting up already is banned in bars, public buildings and on many of its golden beaches.

But the tobacco tax, pitched to voters under Proposition 29 in Tuesday's primary, teetered on the brink of defeat Wednesday just months after opinion polls showed widespread support. The measure was trailing by about 63,000 votes, although still-uncounted ballots could number as high as 1 million, by some estimates.

The crumbling support coincided with a barrage of opposition ads, paid for as part of a $47-million opposition campaign bankrolled by Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,7081044.story

[wingrider]

thanks.. I wonder just how much more in sintax these fools are going to steal from us. its like Obama said He wouldn't raise Any taxes yet 2 monts later raised tobacco taxes 1000 percent,, I normally smoke a pipe, and was paying about 7 bucks for a pack of tobacco now it is closer to 25 bucks

[MMC]

I had started a thread on this asking CL what was up with this. As some said if it passed in Cali then it could have Constitutional implications for the rest of us.

As cited. They wanted to raise the tax on the taxpayers for a dollar. Yet the whole tax would fund a Chairty. Not one cent would go to the state, or city for infrastructure or to pay any debt or on their budget. So they would be creating a specific tax just to give the money to a Charity.

Then couldn't the state then attempt to write-off the amount as a charitable tax deduction?

[Professor Peabody]

Fear not Wing, looks like it'll be defeated (but it's close)

Asking voters to slap a $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research seems like a cinch in health-crazy California, where lighting up already is banned in bars, public buildings and on many of its golden beaches.

But the tobacco tax, pitched to voters under Proposition 29 in Tuesday's primary, teetered on the brink of defeat Wednesday just months after opinion polls showed widespread support. The measure was trailing by about 63,000 votes, although still-uncounted ballots could number as high as 1 million, by some estimates.

The crumbling support coincided with a barrage of opposition ads, paid for as part of a $47-million opposition campaign bankrolled by Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,7081044.story

They're not done counting the votes from dead people yet. A large portion of California has gone to mail in ballots. Unemployment in California is @ 11% and over 12% where I live. Prop 29 doesn't just raise tobacco tax, it raises income tax (over $250,000) and sales tax too (1/4 cent). In the economic environment we're in who are all those people voting for this?

[MMC]

Oh, another West Coaster!

[Frogger]

I don't think taxes should be used to modify behavior. The purpose of taxes is to fund governments, not make people behave the way you want them to.

[MMC]

I don't think taxes should be used to modify behavior. The purpose of taxes is to fund governments, not make people behave the way you want them to.

Wish someone would Tell Bloomberg that with his ban on sugar drinks in NY. Then Put that up in Red Lettering to the Democrats.