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Republicans OK new tobacco tax
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Also by Amanda Villa:
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With the Wisconsin budget at a standstill, legislators from both parties have agreed to add into the unfinished draft an additional $1.25 tax on tobacco products.
Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree on major aspects of the budget and are exactly three months past the original 2007-2009 budget deadline of July 1.
Rachel Allen, spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, said the recently approved cigarette tax is the only aspect of Doyle’s original budget proposal the budget legislators have agreed upon. Doyle submitted his proposal in February.
"There have been closed negotiations," Allen said. "But each are trying to put things they want into the final budget [and] people are giving up some stuff."
Allen said both parties have accepted the increase.
The money raised from the increased cigarette tax would be used for smoking prevention awareness programs in an attempt to lower the number of smokers in Wisconsin, Allen said.
"It's an important step in the budget, but we just need to get this done — we have been at a standstill for four months," Allen said.
Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of SmokeFree Wisconsin, said this increase would benefit both poor children and pregnant women because the state has one of the highest rates of pregnant women smokers.
"I think it would be a breakthrough in the budget negotiations," Busalacchi said. "It would mean 84,000 would not have an addiction, and it's a way of protecting our kids."
For SmokeFree Wisconsin, passing this tax increase is top on their agenda.
"It will also help 42,000 smokers quit for good," Busalacchi said. "We think by having it be part of the final budget, [legislators] are making a very wise, strategic and popular move."
John Murray, spokesperson for Rep. Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said all tobacco would be affected by the increase.
Murray said although legislators have come to an agreement on this tax, they remain far from having a finished budget. But Murray added there is a possibility it could be done at the end of this month.
"We're roughly a billion dollars apart on spending for this budget," Murray said. "We're challenging the Democrats to drop some of their spending."
Both parties are continuing to try to make a set budget, but Murray said the Republicans are putting out a lot of offers to the Democrats in an attempt to close the budget gap. Murray said the offers keep getting rejected.
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If there is any product that should be taxed it’s cigarettes. They are far from a necessity and are the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the state. And how long will it take before the legislature protects everyone’s workplace from the proven dangers of second hand smoke.
By raising the tax on cigarettes your pushing people to buy from the Indians where no sales tax is paid by anyone. People in other states won’t buy in Wis anymore if we’re higher. Plus the state gives back 70% of the tax money to the Indians and all the state is left with will be 30%. Texas cigarette sales dropped 22% when they raised for 41 cents to $1.41 and we go from 77 cents to $20.20.
Why stop at taxing smokers? Wisconsin has a high rate of obesity. We should raise the taxes on soda pop, potato chips, and fast food. We can use that extra money to educate and help the state of Wisconsin lose weight.
Hopefully, since the government knows best, it can tell me when and how to take a bowel movement. - Germain E. Stemme
Isn’t it counter productive, to expect increased revenues for pet programs to come from a product the government tells you to quit? It sounds to me as though they want people to smoke so the government can spend more.
Isn’t this an unfair tax on the poor, considering most (not all by any means) of those addicted to cigarettes are uneducated, low to low middle income people? I guess the libs (and sadly the WI Republicans) think this is the best way to gouge the lower income people. I agree, the rich and educated are paying too much in taxes the way it is!!
A response to… Anonymous (October 1, 2007 @ 1:53pm):
Claim: “By raising the tax on cigarettes your [sic] pushing people to buy from the Indians where no sales tax is paid by anyone.” Fact: The state’s cigarette tax is actually usually included in cigarette purchases on tribal land in WI. The tax money is turned into the state and a significant portion is then refunded back to the tribes, but the cost at the counter to the consumer is no less than buying on non-tribal land. We can’t tax tribal members for cigarettes, but instead of selling them cheaper cigarettes, we sell them cigarettes at the same cost as elsewhere in WI and we let the tribes handle how the money gets back to their members.
Claim: Texas cigarette sales dropped 22% when they raised for 41 cents to $1.41 and we go from 77 cents to $20.20. Fact: First of all, by raising the price we go from $.77 to $2.02, not $20.20. Cigarette taxes are sadly a very reliable, predictable, and steady source of revenue. Additionally, cigarette tax increases result in fewer smokers, which means lower healthcare costs. For more info, go here: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0303.pdf
Every pack of cigarettes smoked in WI costs taxpayers $9.53. Smokers are hardly paying their way.
Lets try for a less drastic tax increse. We need schip no doubt but let’s not tax only the smokers. Cigar smokers are, by defination, mellow, but nothing will stop us from fighting(nonviloent means) for our rights. We got the cap down from a $10 cap to a $3 cap. we will continue to fight taxes for one of the oldest passtimes.
What’s the tax on tobacco seed?
Since the cigarette tax is nothing more than a sin tax then I think we should also tax alcohol the same way. I propose a $2.20 tax on every bottle of beer sold in Wi and a $10.00 tax on each bottle of hard liquor sold. This would no doubt raise a very large amount of money for the State to use on all kinds of programs and would also help cut down on drinking reducing the cost of alcohol related deaths and injuries. I’m sure all the “good” liberals in this state would agree that “if it saves one child” it is worth it. Alcohol is by far a greater health risk then cigarettes.
I’m sure that this plan would work just as good as prohibition. No wait that didn’t work did it. I’m sure that no one will drive to IL, IA, or MN to buy cheaper tobacco, or that the black market in tobacco products won’t suddenly start or increase. Just think I could go to other states and buy cheap tabacco and sell to my neighbors and friends and make a profit and still under sell the “legal” markets. Just a thought. Sounds like a good business model to me.
since our government knows what is best for us why donn’t they take a pay cut to further increace our ability to educate people on tabacco. show the children of wisconsin that you truly care.