CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Question of the day

Re: Question of the day

Lula May — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:07:22 -0000

Skeeter why do I suspect you might have a weight problem and love your snacks ?
Obesity is the worst health problem this nation faces.
People having children and stuffing them with junk food because they are too lazy to cook or don't have time.
I consider this child abuse.
Many, many more problems due to obesity compared to smoking. Of course both are very bad habits. But your chances of suviving past 60 are better with cigs than your heart carry 100 extra lb. Looking at the general public I'd say 50% of the population fit that description.
People need to get off their fat a**'*, eat right, exercise and stop making excuses.

Re: Question of the day

AFP-IL — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:42:35 -0000

AFP-IL: Let's review the facts courtesy of Americans for Prosperity:

The Effect of a $1/pack Cigarette Tax Hike on Illinois Retailers

Â· Tobacco Sales are Important to Illinois Retailers â€“ Illinois stores sold 657 million packs of cigarettes in FY 2006, with a gross retail value of nearly $3.2 billion. Illinois merchants earned nearly $560 million in gross profits on these sales.

Â· Tobacco Sales Support Illinois Jobs - It is estimated that nearly 8,000 Illinois retailer and wholesaler jobs were supported by in-state tobacco sales (based on estimated gross profits).

Â· Tobacco Sales Magnified Impact on C-Stores â€“ Over 63% of all tobacco sales occur in the nationâ€™s 140,655 C-Stores, according to a 2006 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) study. The average C-store sells about $412,000 worth of cigarettes and other tobacco products each year.

Â· Illinois C-Stores â€“ Illinoisâ€™ 4,378 C- Stores sold nearly $2 billion worth of cigarettes, with gross profits of roughly $360 million in FY 2006.

Â· Tax Increases Threaten Retail Sales â€“ Cigarette tax hikes are causing consumers to turn to low-tax states and the Internet. Cigarette tax hikes cause consumers to go Online, where they can often avoid their own statesâ€™ tax. According to NACS about $5 billion of cigarette sales took place over the Internet in 2005 up from $750 million in 2001. Illinois increased its cigarette tax by 40Â¢ in July of 2002 from 58Â¢ to 98Â¢. Cook County has also increased its local cigarette tax by $1.82Â¢/pack (from 18Â¢ to $2/pack) over the past three years. If this were not enough the City of Chicago increased its cigarette tax to 68Â¢/pack in 2006. Cigarette excise taxes in the City of Chicago are now a whopping $3.66/pack (98Â¢ state tax, $2 county tax and 68Â¢ city tax). If the Illinois tax is increased by $1, the Chicago cigarette tax (state and local combined) would be a staggering $4.66/pack. In Cook County the tax would be $3.98. This is more than the tax in New York City where tax-paid volume has plummeted by 55% since it raised its tax to $3.00 per pack. In Cook County it is estimated that cigarette tax-paid sales have plunged by a boggling 60% since 2001. And, Illinois state tax-paid sales have plunged by about 22% since 2001.

Commercial Losses Due to A $1/packIllinois Cigarette Tax Hike

Â· In spite of large recent tax increases of the Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago cigarette taxes, some are proposing an Illinois cigarette tax hike of $1/pack. This would raise the Illinois state tax to $1.98 per pack. Illinois residents outside of Cook County could save $18.10/carton in Missouri, $16.80 in Kentucky and $9.85 in Indiana. In Chicago the total state and local cigarette tax would be $4.66/pack. A Chicago resident could save over $44.90/carton in Missouri or over $36/carton in Indiana. A van-load of cigarettes from Missouri would have a profit potential of nearly $255,000. Such bootlegger incentives could create a situation reminiscent of the days of Al Capone.

Â· Loss in Cigarette Sales Volume â€“ Cigarette volume is estimated to fall by nearly 25% on an annualized basis or by 164 million packs due to the proposed $1 tax hike in FY 2008.

Â· Loss in Sundry Product Sales - Sundry product sales, or products normally bought in conjunction with tobacco products, could fall by nearly $140 million due to the $1 tax hike.

Â· Loss in Illinois Gross Profits (value added) - Gross profits lost to Illinois retailers and wholesalers are estimated at approximately $116 million due the proposed $1 tax hike.

Â· Convenience Store Losses - Cigarette sales at C-stores would fall by 100 million packs due to the $1 tax hike. Gross profit losses could average about $15,000 per store

Â· Revenue Impact - It is estimated that Illinois will gain about $320 million from the $1 tax hike.

Commercial Losses Due to A $1/packIllinois Cigarette Tax Hike And A Federal Cigarette Tax Increase of 61cents/pack

Â· Loss in Cigarette Sales Volume â€“ Cigarette volume is estimated to fall by nearly 30% on an annualized basis or by 195 million packs due to the proposed $1 tax hike in FY 2008 and 61 cent federal tax hike.

Â· Loss in Sundry Product Sales - Sundry product sales, or products normally bought in conjunction with tobacco products, could fall by nearly $165 million due to the $1 tax hike and 61Â¢ federal tax hike..

Â· Loss in Illinois Gross Profits (value added) - Gross profits lost to Illinois retailers and wholesalers are estimated at approximately $133 million due the proposed $1 tax hike.

Â· Convenience Store Losses - Cigarette sales at C-stores would fall by 122 million packs due to the $1 tax hike. Gross profit losses could average about $18,000 per store.

Â· Revenue Impact - It is estimated that Illinois will gain about $310 million from the $1 tax hike with a 61 cent federal tax included.

Taxes Per Pack In Chicago After a $1 IL Tax Hike and 61 cent Federal Tax Hike

Federal Tax/ Pack $1
State Tax/Pack $1.98
Cook County Tax/Pack $2.00
Chicago Tax/Pack .68
State, County, Local Sales Tax .77

Grand Total $6.43

Re: Question of the day

Little Egypt — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:46:30 -0000

I sure wish this blog would be mandatory reading for Elvis, his staff, MMadigan, his staff & Tickle Me Emil, and his staff. Even though many of us are at odds with each other, there is more good arguing, communication, and dialogue here than there ever will be between Blago, the House and the Senate. Perhaps we should all vote ourselves into the legislature and solve the problems of this state. Way to go Rich. You're sitting on a gold mine with this blog.

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:38:47 -0000

- tom -
Tax the Fat Cats, reduce obesity, and beautify Illinois! I'm with you.

Re: Question of the day

tom — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:34:05 -0000

The cig tax in Chicago will be $6.43 per pack if this increase goes through. The average household income od smokers in Illnois is $35,000. And the governor keeps saying he doesnt want to tax working families. My god Rod. You are hurting those who can least afford it. Tax the rich.

Re: Question of the day

Tired of this session — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:28:41 -0000

Well, Skeeter, I believe in a limited government and police are to keep the peace and the Army is to protect us from foreign invaders. That's totally different than the government taxing to provide services that should be obtained privately (either with private dollars or charity)like healthcare.

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:19:36 -0000

Skeeter - you seem to find great comfort in your chosen absolutes. I will leave you to them.

Re: Question of the day

Skeeter — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:19:09 -0000

Tired of this Session:

Prenatal care is not the government's business?

"Preventing people from dying" is something that should not be a concern for government?

Heck, while we are at it, let's just get rid of the police and the Army. If you can't protect yourself, you really shouldn't expect THE GOVERNMENT to step in and the do the job for you.

Re: Question of the day

Skeeter — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:16:21 -0000

A,
That is the difference. TOO MUCH of certain foods may be a problem.

ONE cigarette is a problem.

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:14:31 -0000

- Skeeter -
Nope! Too much of a good thing is never enough. Now I'm going to have too much dark chocolate, too much red wine, and a few cigarettes and go to bed. Enjoy!

Re: Question of the day

Skeeter — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:13:53 -0000

Trigg,

Are you really saying that cigarette taxes CAUSE poverty?

With arguments like that, it looks like Trigg may have missed a few doctor appointments himself.

Re: Question of the day

Skeeter — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:11:16 -0000

A Citizen,
I think I understand the heart of your problem. You are simply uninformed.

Dark chocolate is a heart healthy food. In contrast, cigarettes kill people.

Now that we have that cleared up, I assume you will revise your position.

Re: Question of the day

Tired of this session — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:10:43 -0000

No, not because I care about taxing cigarettes but because I strongly oppose the whole idea of IL Covered. It's just not something in which the government should involve itself. Health insurance is a benefit not an entitlement.

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:05:47 -0000

-Lanier-
There are a huge number of health impaired obese people - more than there are smokers. If you really want to have a positive impact on the populations' health the target offending substance is fatty food, not tobacco. The "do gooders" seem to be able to go after one small population rather than the real greater good. Lazy and misguided plus fewer voters "offended". Sooner or later, however, they WILL get to chocolate, fast food, and high fat content foods.

Re: Question of the day

Lainer — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:55:35 -0000

I think some of us have to learn to recognize the use of hyperbole and sarcasm to make a point when we see it and not overreact to it. The comments about taxing baby products and taxing fast food are examples of this. They are simply trying to demonstrate what might happen if you take the idea behind the cigarette tax (making the people who generate greater demand for services pay the tax for it) too far. It does seem to me that a cigarette tax would be self-defeating in the end, since we want fewer people to smoke but that would in turn decrease the tax revenue.

Re: Question of the day

Jeff Trigg — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:36:55 -0000

The poor, unfortunately, do not ride free. Taxes make them poorer. Many of them are hit by the various income taxes, and no, the EITC doesn't cover them all. Then there's sales taxes, electricity taxes (can be 15% in Chicago), phone taxes, cable taxes, street cleaning parking ticket scam taxes, gas taxes, corruption taxes, time away from work, friends and family dealing with the government taxes, and on and on.

The poor do not ride free. Government is creating more of them. Look at the stats on poverty in Illinois this decade. Taxes just like this cigarette tax are largely responsible for the growth in poverty under complete Democrat control. And I'll blame Bush too if in helps.

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:04:25 -0000

Through curtailing purchases of Fast Foods, Fatty Foods, and Chocolate enough money can be saved to purchase the average family's needed health insurance. Their improved health status would be an added benefit to themselves as well as the citizens of Illinois! Plus they would be self sufficient and lessen the burden on society.

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:51:54 -0000

hey cassandra a flat tax means everyone pays the same fraction of there income in tax. If you think it is insignificant thats up to you. 3% is 3%. Yes the wealthy pay more taxes because they work hard and make more money, I do agree the poor ride free.

Re: Question of the day

Tyler — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:25:58 -0000

Cigarettes are too expensive as it is. Roll back those taxes.

As far as health insurance, where in the Illinois Constitution does it say that the state government has to provide health insurance for its citizens?

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:15:08 -0000

Emerging science has shown that smoking cessation propels individuals to augmented levels of caloric intake. Increased ingestion of chocolate coupled with huge servings of fast food e.g. SuperSized, Quarter Pounders, Whoppers, All U Can Eat buffets, etc. have created a young and middle age population of morbidly obese citizens. This pandemic cries out for a solution. Making these "foods" more costly through taxation can and will save lives and families. More people and families and children are negatively affected by these products than previously known. We can start by taxing chocolate then fast/fatty foods if necessary. Ethics and morality demands action NOW!!! Not to mention the added level of good health in our communities.

Re: Question of the day

Cassandra — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:11:47 -0000

The fact is that anyone who is pushing an increase in the income tax in Illinois is advocating a system that favors the wealthy.

A flat tax means the wealthy pay a fraction of their income in taxes, an insignificant fraction in most scenarios, while the middle class has to give up money they badly need to pay for housing, schooling, education, and so forth.

Anyone who is advocating an increase in the current flat income tax in Illinois is advocating for a system which favors the wealthy over the middle class. The poor, of course, ride free in Illinois.

Re: Question of the day

ANON5:58 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:59:19 -0000

Smokers are the easiest and most politically correct people to pick on these days. I bet Madigan and Blago will shake hands and claim the budget crisis is solved by taxing the heck out of smokes. Then when another budget crisis develops next year, they'll just blame it on the smokers not picking up their fair share of the tab again and increase cig taxes some more. All the while, neighboring states will be rolling in Illinois dough. Face it, you cannot legislate morality and personal choices. Prohibition taught us that.

Re: Question of the day

Jeff Trigg — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:43:20 -0000

Illinois has the HIGHEST CIGARETTE TAXES IN THE US already. Chicago has the highest cigarette tax. Evanston is 2, Cicero is 3, New York City is 4, and tied for 5th is every other city in Cook County.

Nicotine slows the progression of Parkinson's Disease, so sure, kick a man when he's down.

State of Illinois cigarette tax revenue in 2004 for $760 million. In 2006, $640 million. The state went straight after the non-smokers for make up for that $120 million decline in tax revenue, which is $10 for every individual in the state per year.

Anyone that believes raising the state cigarette tax by $1 will bring in $450 million more in revenue, is stupid or lying and thus certainly can not be trusted with even more of the taxpayers money.

Then what if th feds raise there's next week from $.31 to $1 per pack, as the Democrats are trying to pass in Congress? Blagojevich, Madigan, and Jones will certainly spend an additional $450 million, but it will quickly turn into breaking even and the non-smokers will pay.

This idea is soooooooooo bad it has to be Blago's.

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:35:27 -0000

I figure a $5.00 per pound tax on chocolate plus the sales tax would help the children and go a long way toward providing healthcare! We must do something to cut down on the obesity epidemic in this state. It is causing untold illness and death at all age levels, sexes, ethnic groups etc. We might exempt sugarless candies but they would need to be certified. If this plan does not provide the essential funding then Phase 2 would move on to taxing the fat content of both prepared foods as well as those purchased from grocery stores as cooking ingredients. The well of income from tobacco is almost dry - time to act now! Tax chocolate and save lives, especially the children's.

Re: Question of the day

Winston — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:40:55 -0000

I can smoke 20 cigarettes in a row, go get behind the wheel of my car and drive to wherever and know those cigarettes arenâ€™t going to influence my driving to the point where I might kill someone else on the road. Alcohol on the other hand will.

I say quit picking on us smokers and instead bring in a WEALTH of income by taxing alcohol. Letâ€™s pick on someone else for a change.

And youâ€™re right, cigarettes are an addiction, which is why I canâ€™t quit. And youâ€™re all also right that smokers will go elsewhere. For the last two years Iâ€™ve gotten all my cigarettes from Missouri ($18/carton) and will continue to do so, as will many, many others.

What WILL our legislature do when less than 1% of the smokers by their cigarettes here?