[babopeddy]

Cigarette taxes in New York would jump by $1.60 a pack under a tentative deal reached between Gov. David A. Peterson and legislative leaders, which would give New York the nation’s highest state cigarette taxes.

The proposal, which officials said Mr. Paterson would include in an emergency budget bill due for a vote on Monday, would also raise wholesale taxes on other tobacco products like chewing tobacco, bringing the tax on those products closer in line with those of cigarettes.

In New York City, which levies steep taxes of it's own on tobacco products, a pack of cigarettes would come with a tax of $5.85, making it the nation’s first city to break $5, antismoking advocates said. That would bring the overall cost of a pack of premium cigarettes above $10 in many stores in the city.

http://Entire article: http://www.ny...ax.html?src=mv
This is nothing but a continued blatant attack on a group of people who are doing nothing illegal. It's forced submission. Either make tobacco products illegal or leave me the hell alone.

Fortunately I don't live in New York. I can still buy a pack of cigarettes for less than $5.00.

[Theariwinna]

This is nothing but a continued blatant attack on a group of people who are doing nothing illegal. It's forced submission. Either make tobacco products illegal or leave me the hell alone.

Fortunately I don't live in New York. I can still buy a pack of cigarettes for less than $5.00.

Last year was kind of interesting because every time I went to continental Europe from London, I got about 10 requests to bring cartons of cigarettes back because the tax in the UK is enormous. I've had friends quit smoking because of the cost of cigarettes, so... yay!

[Sawyer]

I can't imagine anything that steep passing in PA. Rural PA loves its cigarettes, and we cling to our religion and our guns. So if anyone tried to pass anything that steep here, we'd shoot them in the name of Jesus.

[Caregrasy]

Last year was kind of interesting because every time I went to continental Europe from London, I got about 10 requests to bring cartons of cigarettes back because the tax in the UK is enormous. I've had friends quit smoking because of the cost of cigarettes, so... yay!

The customs woman at Heathrow was CONVINCED I was smuggling in something, and she was leaning toward cigarettes. She also said to me at some point "are you aware that illegal drugs are illegal?"

[babopeddy]

The customs woman at Heathrow was CONVINCED I was smuggling in something, and she was leaning toward cigarettes. She also said to me at some point "are you aware that illegal drugs are illegal?"

"Yeah, I'm aware. Are you aware that just because you're a customs agent doesn't mean you aren't an idiot?"

[squeerisott]

This is nothing but a continued blatant attack on a group of people who are doing nothing illegal. It's forced submission. Either make tobacco products illegal or leave me the hell alone.

Fortunately I don't live in New York. I can still buy a pack of cigarettes for less than $5.00.

Even though I quit smoking a few years ago, I absolutely agree with you, Kirk. As long as smoking is legal, this is scapegoating. And now they're trying to go after my Pepsi too.

[adunnyByday]

I can't imagine anything that steep passing in PA. Rural PA loves its cigarettes, and we cling to our religion and our guns. So if anyone tried to pass anything that steep here, we'd shoot them in the name of Jesus.

Humm it reminds me of someone who said it

[babopeddy]

Even though I quit smoking a few years ago, I absolutely agree with you, Kirk. As long as smoking is legal, this is scapegoating. And now they're trying to go after my Pepsi too.

Sorry, just saw this.

Congratulations! That's no small feat.

[Bwvapays]

I went from a two pack a day smoker to quitting cold turkey over 20 years ago. I'm all for raising the tax. Nothing bugs me more than walking down a street and someone is puffing away ahead of you and the second hand smoke is coming right at you. Forget about walking past or exiting an office building.

I don't think too many New York City dwellers will complain.

[babopeddy]

I went from a two pack a day smoker to quitting cold turkey over 20 years ago. I'm all for raising the tax. Nothing bugs me more than walking down a street and someone is puffing away ahead of you and the second hand smoke is coming right at you. Forget about walking past or exiting an office building.

I don't think too many New York City dwellers will complain.

Just because people won't complain doesn't make it right.

I think a lot of smokers could be a hell of a lot more courteous of others, no doubt about that. I'm one of those. I wouldn't walk down a busy street in front of you while smoking a cigarette. I don't throw my butts out the window or crush them and leave them in public places.

Until tobacco is made illegal, people have a right to do it where it's allowed. And trying to force people to quit by continually raising taxes on those products is, in my opinion, exploiting tobacco users.