Smokers Could Face Tax Increase
Alternative content
Smokers Could Face Tax Increase
There is a call for a tobacco tax hike. It comes as Georgia wrestles with a budget shortfall expected to top $2 billion for the current fiscal year. Count on WJBF News Channel 6's Renita Crawford...
There is a call for a tobacco tax hike. It comes as Georgia wrestles with a budget shortfall expected to top $2 billion for the current fiscal year. Count on WJBF News Channel 6’s Renita Crawford for reaction from the proposed legislation.
(Augusta) - Frank Bennings says another dollar won’t stop him from smoking.
I’ve been smoking all these years I guess I’ll have to go along with it.
But other smokers say a proposed dollar tax per pack increase on cigarettes is unfair.
Health care advocates say it’s time smokers start coughing up money to help pay expenses for their habits. More than 10,000 Georgians die from smoking-related diseases every year. Georgia’s Alliance for Tobacco Prevention told lawmakers they are solidly behind the proposal.
“Well, we’ve seen this in other states. We see you increase the tax, it increases revenue and it decreases the number of packs sold.“
Fred Hammond: “I don’t smoke, but I tell you right now I think it’s an unfair tax. I think that’s just another way of ripping the consumers off. He wants to smoke that his own prerogative even though I feel like it’s a health issue with anybody that smokes. They shouldn’t smoke but if they want to that’s them. They get billions of dollars in cigarette tax in this whole state and other states I know that for that a fact.”
Charlotte Barrett: “I believe I like that because I don’t like people smoking. I’ve had two people die in my family from smoking.“
State representative Ron Stevens, of Savannah, is pushing the legislation.
State Rep. Ron Stevens: “For those people that had a new year’s resolution who want to quit smoking, I intend to help them with that. You know those smokers are 20% of the population in the state of Georgia. All taxpayers in the state of Georgia foot the bill for the increase cost to all of us.“
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
One thing that (Mr Stevens),is not looking at or thinking about,is there is some cigs:that you buy at a cut rate price but you have to roll them with a machine! And they are 5 times worse! It is ok to have a tax increase,but a dollar is WAY-WAY-to much!! People who are low-income will suffer even more,i mean there really the ones that will suffer,so if you want to take food of off,peoples table,you go home and think about those children who did not eat!! Itis 500% unfair to smokers,and hey the people who make them should pay for the losses,not our states,we are already hurting and you and those other people are just adding fumes to the fire!!! We need to get meds:,that really work,so we will stop smoking? I did not no as a kid,that these things were BAD,for you,and now im 55yrs old,and have tryed every-thing,none of it works or you can not afford to buy it!!! Help us there,were we need it and are begging for it,hey i didnt mess our state up,its those that SIT IN OFFICE,S!!! Not cigs:
Advertisement