Comments on: Abstention winning out over extra $1.25 among smokers

By: SR

SR — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:01:12 +0000

Thats true. Folks can save as much as $30-$40 bucks a carton in New Hampshire. My brand is around $40 bucks in Salem but around $80 here. Since my travels take me right through New Hampshire at least once a month it was easy to buy there when I did smoke. The Federal tax increase did make them rise up there .61 cents per pack.

States though are feeling the pinch. The state and fed tax increases has seen state tax revenues fall which is the foundation for their numbers. CT saw massive tax shortages a couple years ago due to rises in prices.

Smoking is close to a breaking point. The numbers will continue to fall so unless NY reigns in spending they are going to have to start taxing other “sins” now which is exactly what we are seeing. Alcohol taxes have spiked, soft drinks, and soon fatty foods. Oddly enough you can still get a double cheeseburger from McDonald’s for 99 cents.

By: Rik

Rik — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:28:03 +0000

No mention of how they came up with these numbers but there are only two possibilities: The first one is using stats on cigarettes sold LEGALLY within NY borders which is a joke. At least 20% of the cigarettes smoked by New Yorkers are off the radar. Either black market or bought out of state. The second possibility is they pulled these numbers out of a dark stinky hole.

By: SR

SR — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:20:01 +0000

Patersons raise of the excise tax and then additional taxes on each case of beer in the state is going to hurt thousands of beer and soda distributors and it is almost certain that Budweiser in Syracuse will be shutting down and moving operations to Kentucky thus costing NY 7,000 jobs and millions in tax revenues, etc. And Patersons response? Lets cut the STAR program to decrease spending.

This state is in big trouble. This government can’t even run a profitable gambling institution in NYRA. Fire them all!

By: ed1

ed1 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:03:10 +0000

And why do you think all this is happening and will continue to happen until the State either implodes from the eventual exodus of its best and brightest or succeeds in creating a population of socialist sheep who only want and refuse to contribute? Anyone who finds contentment in allowing a cynical one-party steamroller to ill- pave the already rocky roads of government deserves the treacherous commute.

By: SR

SR — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:34:54 +0000

I am one of those who quit over the ridiculous tax increases over smoking and I could care less. They can talk a big game over how great it is that these taxes drove people to quit but they also forget the thousands of jobs it is costing as well as the millions in tax revenues.

Whats worse is the state and Fed has tied cigarrette taxes to health care and education program funding so when people quit smoking and tobacco companies go out of business these programs go unfunded. Hence why Paterson has gone after Beer, soft drinks, and liquor in the state now to further increase tax revenues. Fatty foods are next. Pretty soon buying a Snickers bar is going to cost $5 bucks. Good luck with this new fanged government telling you what to eat and drink. Fun times indeed.