Comments on: Stogie News: Cigar Tax Vote Today, Bush Veto Threat Stands

By: Stogie Commentary: Hey Cigar Industry, Get Your Act Together!

Stogie Commentary: Hey Cigar Industry, Get Your Act Together! — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:38:57 +0000

[...] The cigar industry, from field to shop, turns out a great product. But, I’m sorry, that’s about it. As Congress began Thursday to debate a new version of the SCHIP bill that appears to contain the same tax proposals for cigars as did the earlier legislation, I was distraught. But after the industry’s display earlier, I wasn’t surprised. [...]

By: Emerald

Emerald — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:07:12 +0000

Please support the tobacco farmers. This cigar tax will doom our fragile industry. We are in the relaxation business….a good glass of scotch, a fine cigar, a crackling fire…people enjoy our products not abuse them . Please fight with me to stop this drastic tax!

By: Smoke Rings

Smoke Rings — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:32:18 +0000

Just read the text of the bill. it is both better and worse than what is posted here. The excise tax increase is not 256% as I see often repeated in forums such as this. It is an increase to 53% from the current 21%. That’s a little like saying that the state will only execute you three times instead of five times, but it is not a 256% increase. The bad news is that the effective increase in excise taxes is as much as 2,950% because the maximum tax will go from five cents a cigar to $3.00 a cigar. The increase will be proportioanally more on lower priced cigars than on cigars costing $5.65 or more each because that is the price at which the tax maxes out. For example, a $3.00 cigar would cost $4.59 under the new tax, while an $8.00 cigar would cost $11.00. That’s a 53% increase on the lesser priced cigar and 37.5% on the more expensive smoke. Your box of 25 Davidoffs will go up $73.75 under this deal. My $3.00 fist burners will cost $38.00 more. If you look at it that way the pricier smokes just became more affordable. It will be interesting to see what the net increase is in taxes collected on cigars when people just refuse to buy.

By: Smoke Rings

Smoke Rings — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:29:53 +0000

By: Smoke Rings

Smoke Rings — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:39:04 +0000

I am greatly opposed to this tax but just can’t seem to make some of the numbers I see here add up. If the maximum tax on cigars is $3 a stick, how can the price of a box of 25 be raised “$100 or more”? The tax is absurd, but if we are going to oppose it, we ought to get our facts straight. Please help me understand what I am missing.

By: Stogie News: Bush Vetoes Tobacco Tax Bill

Stogie News: Bush Vetoes Tobacco Tax Bill — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:41:33 +0000

[...] The veto, which is the only the forth of Bush’s Presidency, stops a 256% increase of the excise tax on cigars to 53%. The proposed tax also raised the cap on from 5 cents to $3 per cigar. The combined effect would have raised the price of many premium and ultra-premium cigars by $100 or more per box. [...]

By: Eric D.

Eric D. — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:32:31 +0000

Sad to say, if Hillary or any other liberal get into the White House taxes like these will seem sensible compared to what they will do to us in the future (and yes, I say this with sarcasm). I know both liberals and conservatives enjoy cigars and are against such taxes, but hey, let’s not fool ourselves. The far left want the government to take OUR money and spend it for their government sponsored “feel good” programs. I’ve got friends in Canada who have been waiting years for surgery that took me a month to get. A beautiful system…not. They call it socialism, and even communism in some countries. If it smells like poop, looks like poop, its probably poop. On that note, I’m going to go smoke a big fat juicy stogie and celebrate my right I still have in my backyard…

By: Ze do Charuto

Ze do Charuto — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:48:02 +0000

Hmmm. I see your point. “Pick and choose” taxing is a dangerous thing. This tax doesn’t solve the health care problem in America, and it does smack of populist political maneuvering.

By: Jeff's Garage and Ale House

Jeff's Garage and Ale House — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:49:32 +0000

“And as for having to “fund healthcare for someone else’s child,” well, you already fund their schooling, library, parks, and all other manner of public services. It is not accurate to differentiate between public services for children and adults, they are all citizens. It is all part and parcel of participating in society! ”

Ze, I have to respectfully disagree. Where do we draw the line? What’s the next thing we’re going to have to fund so a politician can claim to be “doing something for the children”? Remember, this is for children who’s parents are far above the poverty line (i.e., not poor enough for Medicaid). What’s next, we start accepting higher taxes to pay for food and clothing for these kids? Every child should be able to experience Disney World, so how about a program for kids to go to Disney World if their parents can’t afford it? Many 16 year olds have no car, some because their parents maybe can’t afford to buy them one. So lets tax some other group to pay for that. Where does it end? Again, its for children not poor enough for Medicaid, i.e, they have parents who work and make decisions on what to do with their money. Let THEM make the sacrifice to pay for their child’s medical coverage. Don’t punish me because they refuse to. I made the responsible decision not to have kids so I wouldn’t have to.

By: Zé do Charuto

Zé do Charuto — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:33:57 +0000

… that being said, my bargain $3 handmade stogies sure won’t taste nearly as sweet at $6!!!