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Poll results
Do you support Gov. Mark Sanford's proposed 30 cents per pack cigarette tax increase as part of his overall economic plan ?
Yes, it's a good way to generate revenue and a good way to offset the proposed income tax cut. 72% 619 votes
No, the combination of cuts and tax increases is not the way to solve our state's economic woes. 27% 232 votes
851 total votes
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Comments
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Profiting from addiction -- of any type -- is morally reprehensible to me.
Simply saying that those funds are to be spent exclusively on health care is no more than taking the word of people I already regard as [duh] -- morally reprehensible.
So I vote 'NO' on increasing cigarette taxes.
December 10, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
I usually agree with Gov. Sanford, but not in this case. This plan is giving to the rich and taking from the poor, widening the gap of the haves and have nots. Don't cut taxes for the haves - they have enough write-offs and loop holes now.
December 10, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
A further wacky idea in the race to the bottom.
December 10, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Missing_Home (anonymous) says...
I used to think Mr. Sanford was smart.
Now I am shaking my head, He wants to tax cigs 30%. What happens to that tax base as more and more people are quiting? I don't see cigs being legal after 2020.
Then where will he get the funds from?
He should tax every cell phone user in SC 1 Nickel, he would come out way ahead.
This is a tax base that is only increasing.
December 10, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Missing_Home (anonymous) says...
The only true reason why someone would tax a waning tax base product like Cigerettes is probably because he hopes to force more smokers to quit.
Again, once the smokers quit, 1 of our future Gov. is going to have to deal with the shortfall.
December 10, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rahard (anonymous) says...
1. reducing hi income taxpayer's tax by 50%? What is a hi income taxpayer please?
2. anything over 50 K is hi income. thus the gov would not be providing any relief to the MAJORITY of taxpayers...simply
rewarding the wealthy....Where is he coming from???
3.Because this is an internet poll, the 447 votes were internet obtained. How many of those voters, if they are voters and taxpayers, earn more than 50K? Probably 90 percent.
4. The result of course, if my premise is true, is obvious.
5. Why can't this newspaper prepare a more stratified
question which could leave room for under 50K taxpayers
to have a vote?
6. My conclusion therefore is that this poll was a waste
of my time.
7. try again.
December 10, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
"5. Why can't this newspaper prepare a more stratified
question which could leave room for under 50K taxpayers
to have a vote?"
"3.Because this is an internet poll, the 447 votes were internet obtained. How many of those voters, if they are voters and taxpayers, earn more than 50K? Probably 90 percent."
If I'm reading you right, people who earn less than $50K are less likely to have access to this poll, therefore it is skewed toward those who earn more than $50K.
So, how would changing, "stratifying" the questions allow more under $50K earners access to this poll than already have access?
"6. My conclusion therefore is that this poll was a waste
of my time."
So,... You decided to 'waste' 20 more minutes of your time on this poll? You make more and more sense all the time!! LOL!!!
December 10, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paulie (anonymous) says...
As far as I'm concerned, I would be extremely happy to see them tax cigarettes at 100% or more ...
December 13, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Maybe it will make people quit this disgusting habit.
But then how will it benefit the state coffers?
December 15, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cfdoo7 (anonymous) says...
As people quit smoking the revenue will slowly go down. Other states that have done this ended up with shortfalls and had to pull the money from the general fund.
December 18, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WilBrowning (anonymous) says...
Personally, I think we should significantly increase the excise taxes on alcoholic beverages. Certainly, I know that tobacco products are attributed to the deaths of many people, but I know that alcoholic drink kills many more. I find loud obnoxious alcoholic beverage drinkers in restaurants to be quite vile and their speech many times to be nasty and filthy. The smell of the drink is offensive to me, but then again I do not care a great deal for the smell of most perfumes. Couldn't we increase the tax on alcohol and perfume?
I think we need a tax levied on those that stink. They probably stink because they have spent too much time playing video games and not enough time in the shower. Couldn't we add a ten dollar tax to video games? With such a tax on video games, perhaps more people would smell cleaner. Though you know, more showers will increase the strain on sewer districts. We must have a surtax imposed on showers.
I'm pretty sure that the increase in suds will also have a negative impact into the sewage released into our streams and creeks; can't we add taxes to soap products? As tainted wastewater discharges decline wildlife in the area should rebound. Wildlife population increases in the area are likely not to be accepted by the many people who moved here from urban areas to get closer to nature. I think we should impose taxes on people harboring significant populations of wildlife. We can use the funds generated to bring more beneficial animals into the area like the spotted owl, which tastes like chicken.
How about a tax on the news media? I think that's an exceptional idea. We could greatly increase the State's General Fund for each story published or broadcast by the media where facts are ignored since we know that the media has never let the facts get in the way of a good news story.
December 28, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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