Coalition to push for $1 a pack increase
The same people who pushed the "dime-a-drink" hike to the alcohol tax and the "dollar-a-pack" increase to the state tobacco tax are launching a new campaign: Another $1 increase to the cost of a pack of cigarettes.
The group is headed by Vincent DeMarco, includes AARP Maryland, MedChi and the NAACP among others. They plan lobby lawmakers next session to increase Maryland's rate to $3 a pack.
New York now has the highest tax rate on cigarettes in the country, at $4.35 a pack, according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, an anti-smoking group. Five other states and Guam tax packs of cigarettes at $3 or higher.
DeMarco and his group would want the revenues to fund "critical health care and public health needs." The General Assembly last increased the tax on cigarettes during a special session in November 2007. At that time it went from $1 a pack to $2 a pack and made Maryland's rate the 11th highest in the country.
Bruce Bereano, who represents some tobacco wholesalers said it is "pretty pathetic" that DeMarco is pursuing this increase. "It's just to keep him in business. It is just to keep him relevant."
Bereano added: "it is time for government to leave adult smokers alone. ... they are not ATM machines for government."
The group is headed by Vincent DeMarco, includes AARP Maryland, MedChi and the NAACP among others. They plan lobby lawmakers next session to increase Maryland's rate to $3 a pack.
New York now has the highest tax rate on cigarettes in the country, at $4.35 a pack, according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, an anti-smoking group. Five other states and Guam tax packs of cigarettes at $3 or higher.
DeMarco and his group would want the revenues to fund "critical health care and public health needs." The General Assembly last increased the tax on cigarettes during a special session in November 2007. At that time it went from $1 a pack to $2 a pack and made Maryland's rate the 11th highest in the country.
Bruce Bereano, who represents some tobacco wholesalers said it is "pretty pathetic" that DeMarco is pursuing this increase. "It's just to keep him in business. It is just to keep him relevant."
Bereano added: "it is time for government to leave adult smokers alone. ... they are not ATM machines for government."
Comments
All these taxes are just half stepping weenie moves in the absence of the willingness to push for the outright ban on cigarettes in total. Completely ban the manufactured and packaged and advertised adulterated industrial product.
Not tobacco itself... the underlying natural state agricultural product... or cigars or even loose raw product. Just the manufactured and packaged product.
Want to have a smoke? OK. Go to the farmers market and buy some leaf then roll your own. Getting rid of all those filters is just a side benefit.
Posted by: MrRational | October 5, 2011 6:38 PM
I am a staunch opponent of smoking! Both of my parents died from lung cancer. As attractive as raising tobacco taxes may seem, having Maryland's taxes so far out of line with other States will only result in illegal, untaxed cigarettes flooding into our State. Economic "prohibition" will fail just like Prohibition (the Volsted Act) did, and give rise to increased criminal activity.
Posted by: Bill Campbell | October 6, 2011 2:37 PM
I am a staunch opponent of smoking! Both of my parents died from lung cancer. As attractive as raising tobacco taxes may seem, having Maryland's taxes so far out of line with other States will only result in illegal, untaxed cigarettes flooding into our State. Economic "prohibition" will fail just like Prohibition (the Volsted Act) did, and give rise to increased criminal activity.
Posted by: Bill Campbell | October 6, 2011 2:39 PM
This is one of the few times that I can think of in American History where a single specific group was singled out for such an obvious economic attack. We as smokers already pay higher insurance premiuims, and are taxed to the hilt on our addiction. I will just go to another state and buy my cigarettes. It is simple. People forget that this state and in fact this country were financed on the back of the tabacco leaf. Now they want it outlawed, but since they can't just pass a prohibitive ban, they tax it to death. This is downright unAmerican in every aspect of the word.
Posted by: Beau Michaud | October 8, 2011 12:33 PM