By nyc

April 1, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this

okay…tax the heck out of cigs…but tell me this…marijuana, heroin, cocaine…etc…are billion dollar industries….that go untaxed…year after year…watsupwitdat????

By Asher

April 1, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this

You can’t tax marijuana, heroin, or coke, because they are illegal. If they had to report their taxes to the government, they would be arrested immediately. Duh.

By Cin

April 1, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this

Next it will be pop,coffee,liquor, snack food, and whatever else they can think of until we’re taxed to death and our freedom slowly dies.

By qq

April 1, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this

I am all for a healthier US. But I can’t undestand why smokers get picked on the most. I realized it’s a bad, unhealthy, smelly habit but other habit/addictions are just as bad. drinking and overeating just to name a few. I think alcohol will be the next target. drunk drivers kill lots of people, that will be the next thing that is monitored and taxed. it’s ridiculous.

By rachel

April 1, 2009 2:34 PM | Link to this

What about the obesity epidemic! Why not charge extra tax for overweight people for pop tarts and french fries? Are they not draining our system? Especially when they can no longer walk cause thier knees cannot even hold the weight or develop diabetes. Call it a Fat Tax.

By ed

April 1, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this

Hey Obama supporters how is that “HOPE and “CHange” working out for ya

By Smoke This

April 1, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this

This tax is to help 4,000,000 kids with their health care. So, what about the rest of US.

By ?

April 1, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this

lets face it. obama said no new INCOME TAXES for under 250k or was it 100k or wait 50k. but he didnt say he wasnt going to raise all the other taxes. we would have been better off with an incometax increase

By null

April 1, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this

Ironic part is Obama smokes

By ?

April 1, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this

but u cant tax crack..its illegal

By Arthur

April 1, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this

I don’t think the tax is high enough. Non smokers have to deal with raising healthcare rates caused by smokers who require medical care (notabally the uninsured, or government fed ones who don’t pay for their care). Or the high insurance rates to cover all of their health related expenses (Theirs, and their immediate family’s doctor visits caused by their smoking). Its about time they start paying their share of the cost.

By bucks1

April 1, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this

Why does everyone believe the propoganda that smokers are THE only cause of high health care rates? You know what? Obesity is a much bigger drain on the healthcare system. People can live for 30 or 40 years while bing grossly obese. Most will end up on disability because they are unable to work either due to their weight or because they have developed some other disease from it. You don’t see a smoker dying of lung cancer for years… Or better yet, we should tax cigarettes to the point where no one can afford them. That will put the tobacco companies out of business. Oh, but what would we do without the billions and billions of tax dollars it generates…

By Whatever

April 1, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this

Just wait until they start taxing wine. Why not, don’t most well-to-do folks drink it? They can afford an extra buck or two, can’t they? I’m so glad I can pay for SCHIP. Thanks for the “change” Obama. No guns, no smoking and pro-union? What a friggin’ joke. Democracy is dead. Funeral to follow.

By cmg

April 1, 2009 3:46 PM | Link to this

I tottally agree with you Bucks1. This whole thing is a bunch a bull!! What about the drinkers? Where is their tax hike?? You can’t tell me with all of these people getting fired that there isn’t a lot more drinkers out there!

By null

April 1, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

I agree with Rachel and bucks 1. What about all the obese people in the country. Oh yeah, that’s right, now the government is putting in action a plan to help those ‘learn’ how to stay healthy. Didn’t everyone learn about nutrition in elementary school and it really isn’t that hard. Watch what you stuff in your mouth and get off of the couch! If the main goal of taxing the heck out of smokers is to increase revenue for the uninsured children then why not tax something that the vast majority of the population purchases. Why target smokers?

By Nothing has changed!

April 1, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

This joke of an administration needs us smokers to keep it afloat! To the person who complains about health insurance..buddy I work with people who are overweight and are in terrible shape. So they don’t take care of themselves and my rate is higher? I walk and keep in generally good health, except for my smoking. I haven’t been to the doctor for 2 years, I haven’t been sick! I pay my ‘share’ every week with my outrageous insurance that I DON’T USE but those overweight drinkers sure do. Just an excuse to make the Obamatax ok in your book. What a joke.

By Rachel

April 1, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this

I think it’s outragous to tax ONE pack of cigarettes that much! I don’t even smoke (I quit 10 years ago) and I can’t imagine spending over $3 for a pack! Give me a break - non-smokers don’t have to worry about smoking inside anywhere so why are you complaining that it’s still not enough? Thanks Obama!!!!!

By Steve L

April 1, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this

They tax smokers because smokers are addicted to smoking, therefor will pretty much continue to pay whatever the government mandates the tax at. If the government cared about your health, cigarettes would be illegal. However, as a smoker, if I’m paying extra taxes that I’m going to have to pay no matter what, I’d rather see that money go to pay for children’s health care over some other stupid government program that just makes some politician’s buddy even richer.

By null

April 1, 2009 4:05 PM | Link to this

I am all about helping out the children without healthcare, but I bet most of their parents smoke…

By Whine&BearIt

April 1, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this

I suggest they legalize pot. It’s no more harmful than cigs and booze, so there’s a whole other source of tax income. I suspect that if it were legal and taxed high enough the novelty would soon wear off. It would ease up the legal system as well. Crack and heroin on the other hand are harmful and need to erradicated.

By jett

April 1, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

The crappiest thing is that we don’t know where that money really will go. And for all you smug non smokers out there…don’t worry, the government will find a way to get to you too sooner or later. It’s coming.

By bex

April 1, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this

now days we have people loosing their homes, jobs, future retirement. For some people something as little as a cigarette may take their minds off what they are going through, and we can now thank the government for pushing these people over the edge. my guess is that people are going to wind up loosing it and we will have increased death/ murder rate. The government is wanting health care avaible for more low income children. but what is the goverment going to do with the children who’s parents go nuts and either kill someone or themselves because the can’t have the simple escape of having a cigarette because they can no longer afford it?

By Barry

April 1, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this

Let me tell you how it will be There’s one for you, nineteen for me ‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman Should five per cent appear too small Be thankful I don’t take it all ‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street, If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat. If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat, If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet. Don’t ask me what I want it for If you don’t want to pay some more ‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman Now my advice for those who die Declare the pennies on your eyes ‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman And you’re working for no one but me.

By Chuck

April 1, 2009 5:23 PM | Link to this

WTH? Tax all the fat lards going through the fast food drive-thru’s!

By Chris2

April 1, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this

It is a case of governments control over the people, by taxing them into doing as told. How long will it be before obese people are taxed for eating to much? The government can make you do as told or it will cost you big bucks….. Fascism is on the rise.

By Izzy

April 1, 2009 5:55 PM | Link to this

If you don’t like the high taxes on cigarettes, stop complaining and quit. For all the times I had a lit cigarette fly into my car and almost cause me to wreck, I say you deserve to pay higher for your silly addiction. Maybe this will get people who can’t afford to smoke to go ahead and stop. Thank you Obama!!!

By jon

April 1, 2009 6:18 PM | Link to this

Although today is the official start date of the tax, the ciggs actually went up several weeks ago. Nice Reporting DDN.

By Tick

April 1, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this

lol. Jon, you sound like one of those sad, bitter smokers.

By Wordell

April 1, 2009 7:59 PM | Link to this

…but we smokers be payin’ fo’ da’ heth care of de’ chillren’!!!!!…jus’ like Obammafuhrer want!!!!!!

By Karen

April 1, 2009 8:54 PM | Link to this

I’d like to know how they are going to pay for their healthcare for children when people quit smoking because they are being taxed to death on cigs and everything else. Not to mention losing their jobs because the economy is so bad. Hey Obama where is my bailout?

By Joan

April 1, 2009 9:29 PM | Link to this

This is an unfair tax, just like the next thing the tax and spend Congress and Senate will come up with. It could be food, drink. I heard they are considering a tax on bottled water.They really are clueless. They make enough money off the taxpayers to buy what they want. Just remember all our “Great Ones” in 2010 when they run for re-election. I know I will!!!!

By jeb

April 1, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this

Mccain called this one. Raise taxes on cigs to pay and expand SCHIP higher price will make more quit smoking. So we fund SCHIP out of the general fund. More tax burden. By the way, the death tax that Bush’s tax cut would have gotten rid of in 2010 just got resurrected by the Libs. Horay for tax and spend!!!!

By Willy

April 1, 2009 9:45 PM | Link to this

Just for those of you who think smoking is a “silly” habit..It’s not, its an addiction just like those who drink and drive and kill thousands of people a year. Or those who use illegal drugs and abuse our healthcare system to fix their “fixes” It’s sad to see those people who think it’s a silly habit, if it were wouldnt we all just stop that silly habit like sucking our thumbs or biting our nails??? NO CAUSE WE ARE ADDICTED !!!! I pay my fair share in health insurance, I work a full-time job, and pay my bills on time EVERY month. So I am a horrible smoker that gets my simple release in life raised so high I can’t afford it anymore. Well how about jaking up the airline prices so no one can take vacations, or make the gas prices so high we are all walking to work. NOPE can’t do that !! Go ahead keep taxing the smokers, EVERYONE will get it eventually !! Non-smokers, you have your smoke-free facilities…so SHUT UP !!!

By Bootzscootz

April 1, 2009 10:57 PM | Link to this

WTF?

By Bill from Brookville

April 1, 2009 11:15 PM | Link to this

By taxing cigs they are only taxing the stupid among us. Their the most prone to health problems and burning down their homes

By Megan

April 1, 2009 11:26 PM | Link to this

I picked up cigarettes when I was twenty-one overseas. It was one of the few releases I received. It eased my stress levels. I could be a burden on society and accept government assistance for PTSD, but I don’t. I continued my habit, paid for it on my own, and if that is all I ask for, let me have my relief. If my “habit” gets too expensive for my means, then, I may look into getting a systematic pill provided by the government funds to ease my stress levels while I continue to re-integrate back into society.

By JB

April 2, 2009 7:13 AM | Link to this

All this taxing on cigs. just makes a lot of folks turn to something worse-heck, it is cheaper to buy drugs now than tobacco-our govt. passes these taxes and laws with no thought.

By jon

April 2, 2009 7:50 AM | Link to this

Tick, I am not a bitter smoker. I was just stating a fact. You can drive but any local Speedway and noticed the price increased several weeks ago on their gas/cigg reader board. Also the USA Today mentioned that the price went up several weeks ago in their article. All I am pointing out is the lack of journalism in this article. I noticed it several weeks ago and Im not even a smoker, I just think a journalist could check their facts before writing a article.

By Rick

April 6, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this

When all the smokers quit,where will all of the tax money come from? All of the pepole complaing of the smokers not paying their share of health insurance,get a life.