NJ Gov proposes 30 cent increase in cigarette tax.

[Charade]

Up to $2.70 from the current $2.40 PER pack just in taxes.

Plus he plans on cutting the budget for state colleges by $169 million .

Raise the state sales tax to 7 percent (up a whole percent).

A 2.5 percent corporation business tax surcharge

And trimming the state work force by 1000 jobs.

Hmm... Not bad for the first few months on the job.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/21/AR2006032100230.html

 

[lsyorke]

This state is in big DooDoo if everyone quits smoking!!! Note, no increase in alcohol taxes!

 

[C.Ann]

This state is in big DooDoo if everyone quits smoking!!! Note, no increase in alcohol taxes!

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Many states would be in "big doo-doo" if everyone quit smoking because the states not only count on that revenue coming in, but they also use it for everything but what they have said they "will" use it on..

I doubt there's a governor in office who really wants everyone to quit smoking, but they sure dress it up and make it sound pretty, don't they?LOL

 

[mick67]

Are cigarettes the only industry or product that runs advertisements telling people NOT to use their product? I can't think of any other.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Fine by me... I don't smoke OR live in Jersey... Let them raise it 200%. Maybe smokers will quit and get healthier!

 

[C.Ann]

Fine by me... I don't smoke OR live in Jersey... Let them raise it 200%. Maybe smokers will quit and get healthier!

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Don't let the governor of your state hear you say that.. He'll never get another wink of sleep trying to figure out where he's going to get the money to follow through on all of his "plans"..

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I love New Jersey political stuff! I was only there once, but they had some politician whose last name began with an F (Florio?). The political assault on him was summed up in signs and bumper stickers that said simply, F$%) Florio. They were all over the place! I asked a New Jersian (New Jerseyite?) about it, and got an earful. I heard later that he lost his election.

New Jersey folks don't mince words.

 

[ericamanda01]

I do smoke but here in the northwest the lowest price I can find is around $3.50 a pack so I don't feel too bad for those smokers in NJ.

 

[C.Ann]

I do smoke but here in the northwest the lowest price I can find is around $3.50 a pack so I don't feel too bad for those smokers in NJ.

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I think you may have misunderstood.. It won't be $2.70 for a pack of cigarettes - it will be $2.70 tax on top of the going price for a pack.. I don't know how much cigarettes cost in NJ, but I'm assuming it will probably bring the cost of a pack of cigarettes up to $6 or so..

 

[MAKmom]

He's picking on people who have emotional problems along with being addicted to a deadly substance. It's terrible...it not like they can stop smokeing he knows they will pay whatever they cost. Dh & I figured it out years ago. When packs were only $5.00. 1 pack a day was close to a week in a value resort. I quit on the spot!

 

[Papa Deuce]

He's picking on people who have emotional problems along with being addicted to a deadly substance. It's terrible...it not like they can stop smokeing he knows they will pay whatever they cost. Dh & I figured it out years ago. When packs were only $5.00. 1 pack a day was close to a week in a value resort. I quit on the spot!

Sure they "can".... it just won't be easy!

 

[Planogirl]

Fine by me... I don't smoke OR live in Jersey... Let them raise it 200%. Maybe smokers will quit and get healthier!

If every smoker quits, the states are going to get it somewhere. People may be healthier but we all will be a lot broker.

 

[ericamanda01]

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I think you may have misunderstood.. It won't be $2.70 for a pack of cigarettes - it will be $2.70 tax on top of the going price for a pack.. I don't know how much cigarettes cost in NJ, but I'm assuming it will probably bring the cost of a pack of cigarettes up to $6 or so..

Ooohhhhhh, now that sucks! That would make me quit!!

 

[disneynutt1225]

So glad I don't live in Jersey anymore....

 

[Papa Deuce]

If every smoker quits, the states are going to get it somewhere. People may be healthier but we all will be a lot broker.

That is fine. Remember all the money the state would GAIN, by offsetting medical costs. Also, and I have no idea how much people smoke, but the money they don't spend on cigarettes will be spent somewhere.... and that will be taxed, though to a leeser degree.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They were just able to get a dollar increase a few weeks back here in Cook County, following a few weeks after Chicago bumped them up another 20 cents. Both Chicago and the county have just recently passed bans on smoking too. I have heard of per pack prices in the City approaching 8 bucks. Good to see both the increases and the bans.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Yes, Corzine, he is raising taxes by 1.5 billion dollars, he is adding the cig. tax, raising sales tax by 1%, up the spending from last years budget by 2.6 billion. I also see my property taxes, which are already too high, going to go up since I am sure the schools are gonna take a hit. DOn't you just love politicians that sprout what you want to hear to get elected, and then just do what they want.

Let's see...where can we move too?? Jersey is losing so many people because of taxes and the prices of homes, and they are going to keep on losing them. My son and his gf, when/if they decide to get married won't be able to afford a house in our town or nearby. Townhouses are selling for 400k, and houses are just as expensive.

 

[Tracey1974]

Let's see...where can we move too?? Jersey is losing so many people because of taxes and the prices of homes, and they are going to keep on losing them. My son and his gf, when/if they decide to get married won't be able to afford a house in our town or nearby. Townhouses are selling for 400k, and houses are just as expensive.

That is why we moved to PA with the rest of the NJ/NYtransplants

 

[Cyndiu]

It's terrible...it not like they can stop smokeing he knows they will pay whatever they cost.

Of course they can quit. It's hard, but you have really got to want to quit.

 

[HaleyB]

I think it is great. Of course I don't smoke. Just today I noticed a 20 something girl finishing her smoke outside the grocery store. It really bothered me. I understand people who are older and started smoking years ago before we knew how bad it really was, but there is really no excuse anymore. I know it is not very PC or polite to say it, but I really think people who choose to smoke in this day and age are just plain stupid.