Posts tagged as:

cigarette-tax

New York Fight Keeps Court Dockets Smoking

21 June 2011

I’ve often said that I believe that the behaviors associated with sales tax rates are overstated. I actually don’t believe that folks will drive across the border from Pennsylvania to Delaware to avoid sales tax on a roll of paper towels or a magazine. And despite the hue and cry otherwise, I don’t believe that [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Russian Minister Encourages Citizens to Smoke, Drink More

17 September 2010

I’ve often written about the fact that I believe that “sin taxes” – excise taxes on things that are ostensibly bad for us and should therefore be discouraged – are usually more about raising revenue than modifying behavior. I say this despite the fact that our legislators in this country swear that isn’t the case. [...]

10 comments Read the full article →

SC Legislature Overrides Sanford Veto

13 May 2010

In a remarkable change, South Carolina has voted to increase its cigarette tax for the first time since 1977. Well, sort of for the first time. The legislature originally increased the cigarette tax earlier in the month. But it was subsequently vetoed by Governor Sanford (R-SC). Today, however, the legislature managed to override the veto, [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

Sanford Vetoes Cigarette Tax

12 May 2010

Well, one thing we know about Sanford (alrighty, two, if you count the whole cheating on his wife and lying about it bit) is that he keeps his word… to the legislature. The governor of South Carolina vetoed a bill yesterday that would have increased the cigarette tax in the state by 50 cents. The [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Tug of War in SC Over Cigarette Tax

7 May 2010

Even with a projected $1 billion budget gap looming, there are some items in South Carolina that are apparently “off the table” when it comes to taxation. Chief among them? Cigarettes. South Carolina enjoys the lowest cigarette tax in the country at a paltry 7 cents per pack. Nope, that’s not a typo: 7 cents. [...]

6 comments Read the full article →

Hospital Tax or Cigarette Tax?

2 July 2008

Like many other states, Mississippi is feeling the squeeze of a downturn in the economy. In particular, the state is reporting a $90 million shortfall in Medicaid funding. Medicaid in Mississippi serves about 600,000 people. Mississippi, which ranks among the poorest states in the country approved the deepest cut in Medicaid eligibility for senior citizens [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

So exactly how much do you want to smoke?

4 November 2007

That’s what legislatures seem to be trying to find out these days. Wisconsin has enacted a $1.77 per pack cigarette tax (raising the tax an extra dollar per pack) that goes into effect in January 2008. Believe it or not, that will not make Wisconsin the most expensive state to light up. The current average [...]

6 comments Read the full article →

Fix the Tax Code Friday: Cigarette Tax

19 October 2007

Today’s Fix the Tax Code Friday question is a reflection of the failed bill to fund insurance for children: Should smokers pay for the children’s health insurance bill with an increase in cigarette tax?

1 comment Read the full article →