54 1/2 -cent cigarette tax hike advances
Posted by Lucy in Food and Drink, Health & Education, PoliticsINDIANAPOLIS – State lawmakers gave a strong nod of approval Wednesday to nearly doubling the state’s cigarette tax as part of a health insurance initiative offered by Democrats in the House Public Health Committee.
The panel wrapped the 54.5-cent-per-pack tax hike into House Bill 1008. The initial amendment sought a 29.5-cent increase after a proposal earlier this week contemplated only a 4.5-cent jump
As I have stated before, I don’t smoke, but man, it sure seems to me like not only the city of Fort Wayne, but the state also, really sticks it to the smokers.
The proposed increase would bring Indiana’s per pack tobacco tax to $1.10. Currently it is 55.5 cents, with the national average being 99.7 cents.
To me this is sad, it is almost as if smokers have become a minority that lawmakers seem to make an example of and punish for their choice to smoke. The sad part is some people are basically addicted to their cigarattes, and are going to smoke no matter what. The tax increase will only be a further negative effect on some families.
The entire store in today’s Journal Gazette.
Posted by Lucy.
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I’m telling ya, most non-smokers applaud this and the ordinances and the goofy freakin’ control laws, but they better start taking note. When that ENORMOUS revenue stream dries up because we can’t smoke anywhere and the tax is too high, where do you think they’ll get the replacement money?????????????
Wake up folks, cause right after they’ve emptied MY wallet, they will be taxing the BEJESUS out of you to make up for it, and trust me, it’s a bunch of dough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tim
Nobody wants you to quit smoking, they just want you to pay more for your cigarettes. The tax is not an incentive to quit smoking, it is a partnership between the State of Indiana and big tobacco.