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Opinion
Jun. 04, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Tobacco tax

Smokers are under siege, and no more so than in New York. On Tuesday, the state tax on cigarettes jumped 83 percent to a national high of $2.50 per pack.

By comparison, Nevada smokers cough up -- pun intended -- 80 cents in state taxes for each pack they purchase.

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    • Of course, the usual suspects were congratulating themselves for the punitive new levy -- but for different reasons.

    The state's lead Nanny Stater could barely contain his giddiness.

    "Isn't that something -- to say that I'm excited about a tax increase?" Dr. Richard Daines, the New York health commissioner, told The Associated Press. "But I am. This is a public health victory. We know one of the really effective tools to get people off of their nicotine addiction is to the raise the price."

    On the other hand, New York's big spenders lauded the move, saying the cigarette tax will generate $1.3 billion for the state government during the next fiscal year.

    Again, we see the conflict inherent between the desire by do-gooders to outlaw tobacco and the state's need to keep the cash flowing.

    We'll wager, however, that the revenue estimates will be well off the mark -- and not because hordes of New York smokers will now kick the habit. Instead, they'll find new sources to feed their need.

    "More and more smokers in New York state are going to abandon our stores that have to charge the tax and shift their purchases to places that don't charge the tax, most notably Native American stores, the Internet and bootleggers," said Jim Calvin, president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores.

    The key word there is "bootleggers." New York's new tax will only exacerbate the problem of tobacco smuggling there, leading law enforcement to devote more and more resources to look like they're doing something about it -- all at the expense of more pressing matters.

    Even before the tax hike, a 2006 study estimated that New York had lost more than $576 million due to black market smokes.

    The higher tax will surely make that worse, creating thousands of brand new criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens who simply want to be left alone to enjoy their vice of choice.



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    Herb wrote on June 04, 2008 05:52 PM: New Yorkers overwhelmingly vote for liberal Democarats. I'm sure this includes smokers as well. They are brainwashed to believe the Dems are looking out for their economic interests. Then THEIR taxes go up, yet they STILL vote for Democrats. I can't feel sorry for them.


    Sad Summerlin wrote on June 04, 2008 05:22 PM: Why don't people see this as exactly what it is?

    This is a tax on the middle class and the poor, who are known to smoke more than wealthier class.

    If the do-gooder government really wanted to stop smoking... then BAM!!! make it illegal... oh, but wait... that would open up black market activities like we did when we made liquor illegal in the 20's...

    Seems like the black market is coming anyway... Amazing attitude...

    "We can do good and make people healthy --- and raise money all at the same time... we can't lose."

    Just wait until a single mother of two gets arrested for buying black market smokes because she has to buy food for her kids and can't afford smokes at a legal store anymore... THATS PROGRESS...

    Fools.


    ed g wrote on June 04, 2008 03:17 PM: just like the deaLERS IN ATLANTIC CITY CELEBRATED WHEN THEY BANNED SMOKING IN CASINOS/THEY WILL CELEBRATE WHEN THEY GET LAID OFF BECAUSE THE PA SLOT PARLORS DID NOT BAN SMOKING /ALSO DONT HAVE TO PAY TOLLS/USE GAS /OR MY PET PEEVE /PAY TO PARK/GOOD JOB A.C.


    James wrote on June 04, 2008 03:09 PM: AS a former smoker when are we going to start accepting the fact that when you decide to become a pack-a dayer (or more) there's a faily good chance your body will end up in the morgue but only after its obligatory detour through the city hospital. Lung cacer is not a pretty sight. I have personal experience when, as a ten yeor old boy I watched my father change from a healthy 200 lb. man to something I still don't recognize or understand.

    So, as the saying goes, smokem' if you got 'em but when you butt gets laid six feet under don't expect Phillip Morris to give a damn or to pay for your medical bills. They'll leave that for someone else to take care of.


    p wrote on June 04, 2008 02:38 PM: Well, lets just watch and see if NY'S budget grows by $1.3 billion next year. Then we can watch and see who is going to be stuck with the tab for the short fall when the $1.3 billion dose not come in.

    OH, wait we see that every day coming from Washington, spend more money to fix the problem!


    Tony Soprano wrote on June 04, 2008 02:13 PM: Dis here's a boon to owrganized crime-er..-I mean waste MANagement!

    And everybody knows good pot doesn't come from Mexico, but good blow does!


    dennis1944 wrote on June 04, 2008 12:05 PM: Amazing! New York just did what New Jersey did a few years ago. They taxed the hell out of tobacco, got fat on the revenue for the politicians to spend on crap. Then the peple got smart and started buying their tobacco products from other nearby states. You should have heard the howling from the pols about revenue shortfalls and the need to raise taxes to fix it. Hey, pols not too smart huh?


    Mike Lee wrote on June 04, 2008 10:33 AM: The more laws, the more crime.
    The more taxes, the more corruption.

    A Chinese guy figured this out 2500 years ago.


    Jim Nance wrote on June 04, 2008 10:19 AM: I am sure that Mafia prays everyday that the cig taxes increase.

    There is already a very large black market of cig.

    Tons of cig's get purchased in NC and shipped acrossed the states.

    Hamas use to have, probably still has, relatives in NC that has a black market cig operation.


    tim wrote on June 04, 2008 08:26 AM: if those idiots in new york want their taxes raised,did they not have a say in it,let them eat cake,they deserve it.


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