Not Nice
New Hampshire lowered their tax on tobacco by 10 cents a pack. The tobacco companies raised the price of cigarettes by 9 cents a pack. Not nice Lorillard, RJ Reynolds and Altria Group,
Minnesota
Tom Weaver, of the StarTribune is proposing a $1.50 tax on each pack of cigarettes to balance the state’s budget.<br />
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It is always easy to tax the next guy on a product you don’t use. Why not a 1.50 tax on a can of beer, or wine? Smokers better start phoning your legislators.<br type="_moz" />
Denver Amnesty
<p>Governor <span class="xn-person">John Hickenlooper</span> of <span class="xn-location">Colorado</span> signed into law Senate Bill 184 establishing a tax amnesty program ("Program") under which the Colorado Department of Revenue ("Department") may waive penalties and abate interest on eligible delinquent taxes. The Program will apply to the following taxes: corporate income tax, individual income tax, sales and use tax, gasoline and special fuel tax, cigarette tax, <b>tobacco products tax</b>, severance tax, and certain local taxes collected by the Department. Amnesty is limited to reports prior to <span class="xn-chron">December 31, 2010</span>.</p>
Texas Smoking Ban Dead Again
<span>Texas lawmakers crushed a proposal that would ban smoking in nearly all indoor public places, the <i>Brownsville Herald</i> reports. Both legislative houses did not vote on the measure when their special session ended last week. <br />
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We think this dead for this year.<br type="_moz" />
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Seattle, WA
Roll your own stores are popping up all over the Seattle area. The cost of a carton of cigarettes is $34.00, which is cheap compared to purchasing from a retail store.<br />
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The health nannies are up in arms about people being allowed to purchase cheaper cigarettes. Too bad.<br type="_moz" />
More Complaints Against Ash
From Spiked on line, ASH contacted one of their writers to tell them that a study that was being released by Privacy International was paid for by tobacco. In other words it wasn’t worth the read. ASH again failed to mention all the money they have taken from Big Pharma. ASH just can’t bear the fact that there is another side of the smoking debate, not just theirs!<br />
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Detroit
State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Whitmore Lake, has introduced two bills: one to reduce the tax on liquor, which already passed the Senate and the second one is to cut the tax on cigarettes by $1.00.<br />
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We like this guy, way to go Sen. Hune!<br />
Arizona
Stay away from Jim Lamb in Pheoniz. He wants every smoker to put a sign on their door saying that they smoke. I wonder what this elder is smoking, or maybe he is on his way to senility. Guess he never heard "it’s none of your business" or "your home is your castle".<br type="_moz" />
Canada
<i>Nova Scotia: The government announced Thursday it would join other provinces that are taking legal action against the tobacco industry in an attempt to recover health-care costs due to smoking. They are seeking a lawfirm to take their case on a contingency basis.</i><br />
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Sweden
<i>Icelandis considering banning the sale of cigarettes and making them a prescription-only product.</i>
<p><i>The parliament in Reykjavik is to debate a proposal that would outlaw the sale of cigarettes in normal shops. Only pharmacies would be allowed to dispense them – initially to those aged 20 and up, and eventually only to those with a valid medical certificate.</i></p>
That doesn’t mean this idea will go anywhere except being on a "bucket list" for Anti’s. We all know a doctor is not going to prescribe tobacco but he will prescribe smoking cessation devices. <br type="_moz" />