Local Smokers Burned By Tobacco Tax Hike
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The government hopes the new taxes will raise nearly $33 billion to pay for an expansion of the state's Children's Health Insurance Program.
The federal tax on each pack of cigarettes Wednesday increased from 39 cents to $1 and the tax on most other tobacco products also increased. The cigar tax will increase from 21 percent to 53 percent.[[In-content Ad]]Taxes on loose tobacco will increase from $1.10 per pound to $24.78 per pound.
A sign hung on the entrance door Wednesday of many local gas stations read "Cigarette price increase due to federal excise tax, all cigarette prices have been increased."
Cathy Burgo, 38, Claypool, purchased roll your own cigarettes, Pall Mall filter cigarettes, and filter tubes to roll tobacco at Cigarettes Plus, North Lake Street, Warsaw, Wednesday.
"I don't think its right to tax just smokers. Those who purchase alcohol should also be taxed," Burgo said.
She said she used to work 40 hours a week and quit her previous job, and is now only working eight hours a week.
Burgo said since the tobacco increase took effect, she is shopping around more carefully to see which business has the least expensive price.
"I wish I could quit smoking. I used to smoke name-brand Marlboros, but now smoke Pall Malls because they are cheaper," Burgo said.
Amanda Tolson, 19, Pierceton, purchased a pack of Basic cigarettes Wednesday at Rich, Center Street.
She said instead of buying cartons of cigarettes, she now purchases a couple of packs a week because that is all she can afford.
Tony Graziani, 30, North Manchester, was at Rich Wednesday. He said he has seen name-brand cigarettes in New York at $8.90 a pack and non name-brand cigarettes at $7.50 a pack.
He said he used to live in New York and moved to North Manchester in 2008. Graziani said he purchases his cigarettes through mail order where he can get a pack of cigarettes for $2.
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The government hopes the new taxes will raise nearly $33 billion to pay for an expansion of the state's Children's Health Insurance Program.
The federal tax on each pack of cigarettes Wednesday increased from 39 cents to $1 and the tax on most other tobacco products also increased. The cigar tax will increase from 21 percent to 53 percent.[[In-content Ad]]Taxes on loose tobacco will increase from $1.10 per pound to $24.78 per pound.
A sign hung on the entrance door Wednesday of many local gas stations read "Cigarette price increase due to federal excise tax, all cigarette prices have been increased."
Cathy Burgo, 38, Claypool, purchased roll your own cigarettes, Pall Mall filter cigarettes, and filter tubes to roll tobacco at Cigarettes Plus, North Lake Street, Warsaw, Wednesday.
"I don't think its right to tax just smokers. Those who purchase alcohol should also be taxed," Burgo said.
She said she used to work 40 hours a week and quit her previous job, and is now only working eight hours a week.
Burgo said since the tobacco increase took effect, she is shopping around more carefully to see which business has the least expensive price.
"I wish I could quit smoking. I used to smoke name-brand Marlboros, but now smoke Pall Malls because they are cheaper," Burgo said.
Amanda Tolson, 19, Pierceton, purchased a pack of Basic cigarettes Wednesday at Rich, Center Street.
She said instead of buying cartons of cigarettes, she now purchases a couple of packs a week because that is all she can afford.
Tony Graziani, 30, North Manchester, was at Rich Wednesday. He said he has seen name-brand cigarettes in New York at $8.90 a pack and non name-brand cigarettes at $7.50 a pack.
He said he used to live in New York and moved to North Manchester in 2008. Graziani said he purchases his cigarettes through mail order where he can get a pack of cigarettes for $2.
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