07-11-2007, 10:19 AM
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Jesus loves bacon
Industry Role:
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Sin City, Motherfucker
Posts: 19,969
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Smoking is going to get even more expensive
Quote:
WASHINGTON ? Smokers would pay an extra 61 cents per pack of cigarettes to expand health insurance to about 2 million children under a tentative deal worked out Tuesday between Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee.
The tobacco tax increase would boost the federal levy from 39 cents per pack to $1, an increase of 156%. It would raise about $35 billion over five years to pay for the largest expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) since its creation a decade ago.
"It really does come down to a choice between children and tobacco," said Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., who originally proposed the 61-cent increase. "This is a 'two-fer.' It does decrease smoking, and it does connect public health care costs with one of the drivers of that cost, and that's tobacco."
Some details remain to be worked out before the committee votes on the package, probably next week. Expanding the popular program by taxing tobacco, however, has broad support, including from Republicans such as Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
"Tobacco politics has changed very dramatically," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. In a non-binding vote in March, the Senate voted 59-40 for a tobacco tax hike of no more than 61 cents to expand the children's health program.
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more..
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...ig-taxes_N.htm
I'm glad I quite many many many years ago....(health reasons too of course) |
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