Cigarette Tax Ticker Lit Up
Public health groups today launched a cigarette tax ticker to point out how much money the state is losing by not collecting taxes on cigarettes sold on Indian reservations.
Based on a 2006 state health department study and the increase in cigarette taxes in June, the groups say New York will lose more than $600 million per year in revenue, or $19.08 per second.
“New York State is hemorrhaging crucial tax revenue to the tune of $1.6 million per day – that’s almost $20 per second that could be used on programs to protect New Yorker’s health,” said Donald Distasio, CEO for the American Cancer Society of NY & NJ.
The clock today is up to $268.6 million.
Governor Paterson this week said that he wants to try to collect the tax, as prescribed by state law, yet trying to enforce it would only lead to years of litigation that wouldn’t do the state much good.
Instead, he said he’s trying to negotiate with the Native American tribes, who have long resisted paying any taxes.
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You think Iraq was bad? Pick on the Indians.
Cigarettes are sublime.
Believe it.
I am waiting for the non-smokers to die of cancer, or from some other ailment.
I’ll be howling at their graves.
When facism comes to the United States, it will follow closely at the heels of the anti-smoking movement. So said Bill Stout, a great CBS newsman. Dittoed by me.