primitives discuss cigarette tax hike in Massachusetts

[miskie]

This sounds suspiciously like a 'regressive tax' to me - wheres the outrage ?

[RobJohnson]

Next they will be trying to tax the new e-cigarettes.

[I_B_Perky]

The state of WV did that a while back when Nazi Joe Manchin was gov. He was a notorius anti-tobacco nazi. Now WV is a small state so everyone went to Kentucky and Virginia and bought them and the expected revenue never came to pass. To make matters worse when everyone made their cig runs, they would fill up the gas tank too. The border stores screamed bloody murder to no avail. I used to do it myself. It took me 2 gals of gas to get to Kentucky and back and I saved a lot... made sure I was running on empty to fill up the tank.  I stopped when Kentucky raised their cig taxes to match WV.

Not a legislature session goes by that some fool idiot proposes raising the tax. So far, it never hasn't come to pass cause the current gov has said he will veto any bill raising taxes of any kind. Now that we got obozocare coming, and the war on coal draining revenues, I expect it to pass this year to fund the medicaid expansion.

When that happens, I will do what I did last time as I am sure everyone else will.

[Chris_]

The state of WV did that a while back when Nazi Joe Manchin was gov. He was a notorius anti-tobacco nazi. Now WV is a small state so everyone went to Kentucky and Virginia and bought them and the expected revenue never came to pass. To make matters worse when everyone made their cig runs, they would fill up the gas tank too. The border stores screamed bloody murder to no avail.

Same thing happened in Tennessee.  The state put AFT agents on the border to pull people over and hand out fines.

The agents on patrol duty probably cost the state more than they made in "revenue", but Democrats are immune to those kinds of lessons.

[I_B_Perky]

Same thing happened in Tennessee.  The state put AFT agents on the border to pull people over and hand out fines.

The agents on patrol duty probably cost the state more than they made in "revenue", but Democrats are immune to those kinds of lessons.

Don't surprise me, Chris.  Way I understand it is you can have up to 4 cartons. I think that may be WV law though. We just went down I-64 and there was really no way they could stop traffic for that. If that happened then we was gonna take the back roads. Too many for them to watch them all... especially the dirt ones.   

[Chris_]

I think the limit here is 3, but I don't smoke.

[RobJohnson]

Same thing happened in Tennessee.  The state put AFT agents on the border to pull people over and hand out fines.

The agents on patrol duty probably cost the state more than they made in "revenue", but Democrats are immune to those kinds of lessons.

Wow. When I was younger every vacation resulted in bringing home cigarettes for my grandfather from the Southern states, as well as a few fireworks and Coors beer.

[diesel driver]

Before my wife quit smooking (2005) I could get her a carton for around $18-20. That price has since doubled.

Around here, truck stops sell cartons for around $35-50, depending on your brand of choice.  You can spot the tourists from up north because they practically empty the shelves.  I've actually seen someone from NY throwing suitcases into the dumpster to make room in their car for the cigs they bought!

When I was driving for a delivery company, several of us drivers (myself included) were approached to haul 1,000+ carton loads from NC to WV for a nice chunk on change (I'm talking 3 loads would have doubled my yearly income!) Nobody took the offer, mainly because we didn't own our trucks, but it was DAMNED tempting!

Governments love them some cigs, considering everything over 30 cents/pack is taxes. 

[JohnnyReb]

Before my wife quit smooking (2005) I could get her a carton for around $18-20. That price has since doubled.

Around here, truck stops sell cartons for around $35-50, depending on your brand of choice.  You can spot the tourists from up north because they practically empty the shelves.  I've actually seen someone from NY throwing suitcases into the dumpster to make room in their car for the cigs they bought!

When I was driving for a delivery company, several of us drivers (myself included) were approached to haul 1,000+ carton loads from NC to WV for a nice chunk on change (I'm talking 3 loads would have doubled my yearly income!) Nobody took the offer, mainly because we didn't own our trucks, but it was DAMNED tempting!

Governments love them some cigs, considering everything over 30 cents/pack is taxes. 

A couple of or three years back, there was a group of Muslims in N.C. buying cigarettes in N.C. and selling them further north to finance "Jihad". You may have saved yourself a lot of trouble turning down the easy money.

[diesel driver]

A couple of or three years back, there was a group of Muslims in N.C. buying cigarettes in N.C. and selling them further north to finance "Jihad". You may have saved yourself a lot of trouble turning down the easy money.

Yep.  But all that occurred pre-2000.

Imagine what I could make today...

Bootleg cigs and moonshine.      Boggles the mind...

I'd be like Santa Clause, except I'd have to work 2-3 days a year, vs. just one.   

And I'd still be working 2-3 days more than the DUmmies would!   

[JohnnyReb]

Yep.  But all that occurred pre-2000.

Imagine what I could make today...

Bootleg cigs and moonshine.      Boggles the mind...

I'd be like Santa Clause, except I'd have to work 2-3 days a year, vs. just one.   

And I'd still be working 2-3 days more than the DUmmies would!   

Some form of lesser taxed cigarettes going north to higher taxed blue states as been going on since the 1950's I know. We sold packs for 19 to 23 cents in 1957....cartons for $1.65 to $1.85....and truckers would load up when they headed up north.

[GOBUCKS]

Before my wife quit smooking (2005) I could get her a carton for around $18-20. That price has since doubled.

Around here, truck stops sell cartons for around $35-50, depending on your brand of choice.  You can spot the tourists from up north because they practically empty the shelves.  I've actually seen someone from NY throwing suitcases into the dumpster to make room in their car for the cigs they bought!

When I was driving for a delivery company, several of us drivers (myself included) were approached to haul 1,000+ carton loads from NC to WV for a nice chunk on change (I'm talking 3 loads would have doubled my yearly income!) Nobody took the offer, mainly because we didn't own our trucks, but it was DAMNED tempting!

Governments love them some cigs, considering everything over 30 cents/pack is taxes. 

I always remember billboard signs in North Carolina back in the late 70s advertising smokes (they were all major brands back then) for $2.19 a carton.

Huge numbers of semis were loading trailers with retail cigarettes in NC, and smuggling them into New York, where state taxes drove the price to nearly $10. It's illegal, of course, but it was a very organized criminal operation.

"60 Minutes" had an episode on it with the governor of New York complaining about no cooperation from North Carolina authorities, and the governor of North Carolina suggesting New York taxes must be too high.

[obumazombie]

I always remember billboard signs in North Carolina back in the late 70s advertising smokes (they were all major brands back then) for $2.19 a carton.

Huge numbers of semis were loading trailers with retail cigarettes in NC, and smuggling them into New York, where state taxes drove the price to nearly $10. It's illegal, of course, but it was a very organized criminal operation.

"60 Minutes" had an episode on it with the governor of New York complaining about no cooperation from North Carolina authorities, and the governor of North Carolina suggesting New York taxes must be too high.

Cooperation is by definition a 2 way street, except if you are a lib. Then libs want everything their way, narcissism selfishness and all.

[GCBill]

So let me see if I have this straight.

Cigarettes and alcohol are legal. But at least in some jurisdictions, they are heavily taxed, so there is a profitable black market for cheap booze and cigarettes.

Libs want to legalize drugs because it will destroy the black market. But since they LUVS them some taxes, they will be expensive. So there will be an incentive for the black market to undercut the legal price.

[franksolich]

So let me see if I have this straight.

Cigarettes and alcohol are legal. But at least in some jurisdictions, they are heavily taxed, so there is a profitable black market for cheap booze and cigarettes.

Libs want to legalize drugs because it will destroy the black market. But since they LUVS them some taxes, they will be expensive. So there will be an incentive for the black market to undercut the legal price.

You got it.

[redwhit]

Same thing happened in Tennessee.  The state put AFT agents on the border to pull people over and hand out fines.

The agents on patrol duty probably cost the state more than they made in "revenue", but Democrats are immune to those kinds of lessons.

I think they'd love to do that here in Massachusetts up on the New Hampshire border.  Only problem being that most of the state legislature runs up there a couple times a month to stock up on booze and cigarettes and that could just get embarrassing.

[67 Rover]

I think they'd love to do that here in Massachusetts up on the New Hampshire border.  Only problem being that most of the state legislature runs up there a couple times a month to stock up on booze and cigarettes and that could just get embarrassing.

If only they were smart enough to take the family car that did not have Mass House/Senate official plates. The arrogance is unbelievable.