House OKs $1 cigarette tax hike

Smoking can already be a costly habit, but a pack of cigarettes is about to get more expensive under a new tax plan approved by the House last night to help bring in new revenue for the state.

[paintedtoes73]

yep, I was thinking of moving to New Hampshire. I think you get enough from on demand insurance , that we need to carry. I am single and pretty sick of your stupidness. Yes, I will be another NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOPPER!!! I think you people need to think outside the box. But then again who is greasing you palm with the green stuff.

[Cha-Ching New Hampshire]

How about taxing ice cream and chips. The state spends far more on health care due to fatness.

And how much of those new taxes are going to be spent on state police sting operations going after the poor shmoe who want to save $40 a carton by going over the border. Yep, socialism at its best.

[JOMPR]

If they think they will see anything close to the money they are projecting, we are in pretty sorry state. New Hampshire is the state that will be profiting with this new tax. Go to NH a 20 mile ride, buy your cigs, do your grocerty shopping, any big ticket items will also be bought there, to save on taxes, while I'm there. Good Luck to the State of Massachusetts.

[joeandy]

To me personally it does not apply as I quit. But look who is smoking. The poor uneducated lower income people of Massachusetts. Instead of raising taxes all the time why don't the elected officials try something different. Lowering the expenditures. My God what a unique idea. This must be another year that they are due for another pay raise. I know in 4 years I will be retired and out of this state. The only thing that keeps me here now is family.

[fun lovin life]

Welcome back black market.........

[Kat]

I am a smoker and I have been going to NH all along to by my cig's....seriously thinking of moving out of Taxachuetts. It is getting ridiculous in this state. There will be no revenue from this tax because everyone will go to NH.

[Marlboro Man]

Yup- Time to get on my horse and head back to Montana..

[Really]

I smoke, I haven't purchased cigs in MA since I got my first car in 1964. I feel bad for the Mom and Pop stores along the border. On the 'business loopholes' they are closing. They will have an even more difficult time attracting business to MA.

[butthead]

Another stupid maneuver by the slugs on Beacon Hill. I have to ask what our reps. were thinking. Maybe now they might raise the pay for police detail work.

[mike]

nh here come,all they are doing is giving people a reason to buy everything they can out of state..

[Frank]

Let's say this "works" and people quit, well where are they going to make up that revenue? They'll just find something else to tax. Shops along the NH border (on the NH side) must be thrilled!!!!
So we've brought in more tax money then expected, but still can't govern within the means.

[fun lovin life]

Marlboro Man wrote:

Yup- Time to get on my horse and head back to Montana..

I drove through Montana once,,before the daytime speed limits took affect, back when gas was still fairly reasonable. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen...(except for the Colorado Mountains, of course)

[her]

My husband and I think now may be the time to quite why wait until they are 10.00 a pack? Because the state is so greedy I'm sure a lot of people will be doing the same. Between the people going to NH and the people quiting, I'm not sure they will make anywhere near what they hope. It may have a counter affect and they make less than they normally would. Prices of everything have gone up I don't know how we are supposed to keep up with it. Keep raising taxes but it may just backfire MA. And seeing as I may now live longer because I'm quiting, you can take care of me into old age,(you know pay years more in healthcare) while I may have died faster if I was to keep on puffing. Sound like a dream come true huh? So nearsighted its not even funny! Lets just see what they tax next. I hope no one likes Big Macs and twinkies!

[Frozen French Fries]

This is great news. I hope they up it to 2 dollars. Smokers need to pay and pay BIG TIME.

[Linda]

Black market = smokers get bargain = state gets o
Antis get screwed, priceless

[Sheri]

Frozen French Fries wrote:

This is great news. I hope they up it to 2 dollars. Smokers need to pay and pay BIG TIME.

They can up it all they want. No one's going to pay it. There are many places where one can avoid pirates in government. You need to pay BIG TIME.

[Roger]

butthead wrote:

Another stupid maneuver by the slugs on Beacon Hill. I have to ask what our reps. were thinking. Maybe now they might raise the pay for police detail work.

The state of Mass announced a long time ago that there plan is to price cigarettes out of reach in Massachusetts. Their plan is to make Mass a smoke free state. Now, I dont agree with this plan, but it is the plan they have chosen, and they didnt keep it a secret. So, its not a stupid maneuver, it will eventually have the exact effect that they want. They are hoping that people will stop buying cigarettes in Mass altogether. They are not trying to raise money, they are trying to stop people from buying their cigaretts in Massachusetts.
Again, I dont agree with this strategy, but it explains why they are doing what they are doing with all the taxes on cigarettes.

[ValleyRez2]

Well, let's see...

Our legislators voted against creating three regional resort casinos that would've created 20,000 construction jobs, 20,000 casino-resort jobs, generated $400M in new annual tax revenues for the state and cities and towns, recaptured much of the $1.1 billion we're spending at the CT casinos and RI slot parlors, and given our state's struggling tourism and hospitality sectors a significant boost.

Instead, our legislators voted for tax and fee hikes for working people and a tax giveaway (they call it a reduction!) for big business!

I'm a registered Democrat, as is my wife, and our three children, all married and residing within three miles of us, are all registered Democrats as well. That's 8 votes in our extended household. We talked this out over Easter dinner. And we've all agreed. Come September, we're voting AGAINST our incumbent state rep and state senator. We'll vote for the House Dem challenger who commits to voting for the casinos and against Sal DiMasi as speaker.

In November, if the incumbents are renominated, we're all voting for the Republican challenger. It's as easy as that. We refuse to vote for legislators who say "no" to new jobs and new revenues and, instead, prefer to simply raise taxes and fees.

[Jack]

It's going to cost way more than $1 for most MA smokers to drive to NH with gas prices what they are and rising. Hopefully this will provide incentive to quit. There are no good reasons for smoking. Most people start because others around them do, they are young, invincible, experimental, don't give a sh*t, etc. The habit and addiction settles in and next thing you know your an aging smoker killing yourself and smelling bad. Nothing to help break your addiction like $. People who want a reason to quit should be happy.

[Seeking Freedom]

Jack wrote:

It's going to cost way more than $1 for most MA smokers to drive to NH with gas prices what they are and rising.

People won't make the trip to buy a pack of cigarettes and save $1. How naive. They will save $10 per carton but more importantly they will spend their money in the NH stores while they're there and save 5% on everything else they buy. That's 5% the state won't get and it's bad news for MA stores.