[bigboydan]

Somebody was telling me today that congress has proposed a 6,000% tax increase on Cigars.

Thats just flat out nuts

[HAPPY BOY]

Those f\*\*k nuts are gonna kill the goose that lays golden eggs. Hopefully the Tobacco lobbyist will shut this down. If not allot of fine cigar makers will go belly up. Remember there are lots of cigar smokers that don't smoke cigarettes and will simply cut back on there purchases or just quit altogether, Fascist American baby.

[bigboydan]

Looks like it's true fellas.

That could be as much as maybe a $100 for a box.

Proposed tax worries cigar shop owners

By Laura Elder
The Daily News

Published September 18, 2007
GALVESTON — Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. But to island businessmen Charlie Head and Skip Martin, the stogie has become a political flashpoint that threatens to burn sales at thousands of cigar shops nationwide.

The owners of the downtown Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge, 415 21st St., say they’re worried about proposed federal legislation that would slap as much as a $3 nationwide tax on hand-rolled cigars. The existing federal excise tax per cigar is 5 cents.

The business owners are caught in a largely ideological showdown between federal lawmakers about the expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal-state partnership that covers about 6.6 million children.

Republicans have criticized the Democratic proposal as a gateway to socialized health care. Democrats say they want to increase the number of middle-income children enrolled in the program.

House and Senate Democrats were nearing an agreement Friday to spend about $35 billion a year more on the program.

A Senate bill would raise the tax 44 percent with a maximum of $3 per cigar. A House bill would increase the tax 33 percent with a $1 cap. But President Bush could veto any legislation expanding the program. The federal taxation is aimed at manufacturers. But the cost would be passed on to retailers and ultimately consumers.

If passed, the legislation would raise federal excise taxes on all tobacco products. But the focus on hand-rolled cigars is unfair, Head and Martin say.

The businessmen want hand-rolled cigars removed from proposed legislation, arguing that hand-rolled cigars differ from other tobacco products. Cigar consumers consider the product an occasional luxury.

Smokers might pay a higher price for cigarettes, which are addictive, tobacconists say. But cigar consumers, who consider an occasional stogie a luxury, likely would balk at higher prices, industry officials say.

Also, there’s little evidence that cigar tobacco is related to the U.S. health care crisis or children’s health, the industry argues.

With large budget deficits, Democrats are seeking ways to increase non-defense-related spending, Martin said.

So-called sin taxes are the most politically expedient way to get that funding, he said.

Beer and wine isn’t so heavily taxed, Martin argues.

“There’s no reason why a cigar should have a $3 tax,” he said. “It’s very disproportionate.”

Head and Martin are involved in an industrywide campaign to educate consumers and lawmakers about hand-rolled cigars.

Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge is a popular haven for cigar smokers.

With dark leather chairs and a flat-screen television, the shop has the air of an elegant living space.

Its customers go there to enjoy premium products not pay high taxes, Martin said.

“It’s more of a lifestyle,” he said. “If the prices becomes too high, it becomes prohibitive and has the potential to affect our business in a great way.”

[HAPPY BOY]

I dont smoke cigs only cigars, I have a way of bi-passing if this god forbid should pass. Unfortuneley lots of folks would be screwed. Im gonna keep an eye on this. Thanks for the post BBD, and no Bate this definetlety doesn't make me a Happy Boy

[bigboydan]

No problem HB.

I'm just waiting to hear what the coach has to say on this subject, because he loves his blunts.

[bigboydan]

I'm not really all that worried about it myself sir. I have some friends that live in Detroit and has access to Cubans if need be.

[bigboydan]

Windsor is on the border of Detroit sir, and I have friends that live in Detroit.

[bigboydan]

People that live in Detroit can drive over to the duty free shop in Windsor, and buy them. It's only a hop,skip, and a jump really once you hit the tunnels.

[Willie Bee]

I don't have an opinion on this subject. Just dropped in to look at LargeMouth's avatar. Carry on.

[jaffers]

are you kidding me 3$ a stogie... the damn cigars i buy are only $5.25 a stogie your'e telling me they are going to add 3 bucks on to a 5$ item? i don't get it? almost like the brown county lambeau field stadium tax? just kidding