Oppose Federal Tax Increase on Premium Cigars & Pipe Tobacco

[Kilgore Trout]

Senator Durbin (D-IL) has reintroduced a massive tobacco tax increase as part of a bill that is otherwise intended to address maternal mortality. Buried within S. 411, the Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act (MOMMA’s Act), are changes to the tax code that would treat the entire tobacco industry as cigarettes. The result is an estimated 500% - 1000% increase on the tax for premium cigars (depending on size) and a 1650% increase on the tax for pipe tobacco!

A tax this big isn’t just lost profit.This bill will raise the costs for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. Jobs, businesses, and ability to buy and enjoy a premium cigar will be at risk. Take action now by letting your US Senators know that S.411 (MOMMA’s Act) shouldn’t be paid for on the back of a single industry!

Oppose Federal Tax Increase on Premium Cigars & Pipe Tobacco

Senator Durbin (D-IL) has reintroduced a massive tobacco tax increase as part of a bill that is otherwise intended to address maternal mortality. Buried within S. 411, the Mothers and Offspri...

oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net

All you need to do is add your info and it will automatically send a pre-drafter letter to your state senators.

 

[Chasing Embers]

that would treat the entire tobacco industry as cigarettes

Well, it is tobacco and tax hikes on them are as inevitable as rain. Cellaring has always been the only defense against rapidly increasing cost and taxation.

 

[perdurabo]

They had to bury the tax hike.? Kind of like they’ll bury this thread. ?

 

[spicy_boiii]

I signed it. Not gonna go down the political rabbit hole but let's just say I laughed when I saw which politicians are receiving the letter (I'm in California).

Talk about falling on deaf ears...

 

[jewman22]

Get ready lads, soon enough you'l be paying 40$ a tin just like us up here in the Great White North.

 

[chopper]

I signed it. Not gonna go down the political rabbit hole but let's just say I laughed when I saw which politicians are receiving the letter (I'm in California).

Talk about falling on deaf ears...

Well if you're in California you're used to laughing at the politicians a lot then.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I think that most of us have come to the conclusion that tobacco will either be illegal or priced and taxed out of most people's price range in the hear future. This has been a motivator for me and many others to get a cellar stocked up as fast as possible.
If tobacco remains, that will be a pleasant surprise.
If it isn't, then most of us planned well, and can smoke until we die.

Either way... I would suggest not getting caught with your pants down.

 

[mso489]

I think I'm a moderate smoker, but maybe I had no idea. Maybe one tub of OTC tobacco a year, for $120.

 

[Dio]

Done.

 

[krizzose]

Tobacco taxes and restrictions have broad support from across the political spectrum. That support will only grow. Buy now, tick tock.

 

[Singularis]

Found this regarding the current US tax on pipe tobacco: 27 CFR § 41.30 - Pipe tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco tax rates. - https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/41.30

2002 to March 31, 2009	April 1, 2009 and after
Product	Tax rate per pound* for removals during the following periods:
Pipe tobacco	$ 1.0969	$ 2.8311
Roll-your-own tobacco	$ 1.0969	$ 24.78

So, if my math is right, the cost of a 2 oz. tin currently includes 35 cents ($0.35) worth of pipe tobacco tax. The MOMMA bill (do these fat cat politicians have nothing better to do than come up with cutesy acronym titles for their stupid bills?) would increase that by a factor of 17.5, meaning the seller would have have to increase a tin's cost by about $6 to offset the increase in tax. So, it's not quite double the price, but it's pretty ridiculous.

I'm glad I cellared what I have while the prices have been "low". Unfortunately, I am too young, and too in love with my pipe habit, to make my stash last longer than 4 years. Off to buy more tobacco? I'm sure the missus will understand ...

 

[elvishrunes]

Get ready lads, soon enough you'l be paying 40$ a tin just like us up here in the Great White North.

I‘m a Canuck and just inquired about a pouch of Amphora at my local B/M last week, and it was 35$ plus 5$ sales tax for a pouch, lol. I’d like to support them but sorry. Although I don’t smoke that much so if the price goes up there it won’t hurt me as much as some. Anyhow my cellar is currently growing...

 

[Gus]

It is obvious that taxes on tobacco and alcohol or any other such items are susceptible to increase and have a lot of support for it.

I will give you an example, a few years ago a company decided to import GL Pease and Cornell & Diehl to Spain, a lot of joy had the pipe smokers with it until they saw the price....2 oz of any of them cost about 27 USD ....

My tobacconist asked me why I didn't buy from them, my answer was simple,:

"for every three tins I buy from you at that price, I'll buy 7 from smokingpipes with shipping included and on top of that I'll get them delivered to my house".

In Spain we have been used to these increases for years.

However, I prefer that they raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol or gambling and do not cut in health or education.

 

[kcghost]

They do this because we let them. Time after time we have rolled over when they announced a new tobacco tax. It's time tell them that "I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore".

 

[Misanthrope]

Sigh. I've gone ahead and traumatized my wallet with the special order of 10 pounds of Stokkebye Norwegian and a couple of 21 liter CVaults to store it in. The taxes are already pants here in the Pacific Moistwest, I shudder to imagine exactly how they're going to stack that proposed increase on top of a 95% wholesale tax.

 

[peregrinus]

Senator Durbin (D-IL) has reintroduced a massive tobacco tax increase

For 2019 smokers represented just 14% of the general US population, and 20% of these are “occasional” smokers.
Pipe smokers are not even an asterisk in the statistics.

The real problem is that most of your friends and neighbors likely think this is a good idea.

Make hay while you can, it is only going to become more difficult.

 

[sablebrush52]

I think that most of us have come to the conclusion that tobacco will either be illegal or priced and taxed out of most people's price range in the hear future. This has been a motivator for me and many others to get a cellar stocked up as fast as possible.
If tobacco remains, that will be a pleasant surprise.
If it isn't, then most of us planned well, and can smoke until we die.

Either way... I would suggest not getting caught with your pants down.

That all depends on who catches you with your pants down, don't you agree?

 

[sablebrush52]

For 2019 smokers represented just 14% of the general US population, and 20% of these are “occasional” smokers.
Pipe smokers are not even an asterisk in the statistics.

The real problem is that most of your friends and neighbors likely think this is a good idea.

Make hay while you can, it is only going to become more difficult.

This pretty well sums it up. Rage and pose all you want, you're just pissing into a gale. Definitely let your reps, who probably couldn't care less, know your position regarding this. If you can, start stocking up on what you like.
Me? I'm going to smoke a bowl and then get back to work.

 

[chopper]

For what it's worth; I'm rather sorry to see that they're coming after American pipe smokers.

Here in Nanny State Australia tobacco is now around $125 for 50g.
Outrageous and contemptable.

What's most disappointing is that there's been no outcry from the majority. No united campaign [that I'm aware]
My grandfathers generation would not have tolerated such contempt towards the people.
Industry would have shut down.

I've lived with a 'terminal' disease for over twenty years that's aggravated by stress big time. [Why puffing on a pipe is quite therapeutic for me] So I've done what I can to help myself.

Now is the time for Americans to come together to fight this proposed bill, with an emphasis on the huge difference to health between tailor-made cigarettes and pipe tobacco.

Once pipe tobacco is treated and taxed at the same rate as RYO or tailor-made cigarettes, there's no turning back. Governments become reliant on the huge tax windfall.
Rise up and confront this proposed bullshit now. No use whinging later.

At least Americans can legally grow their own baccy. But, once both your State and Federal Govt's are raking in money hand over fist, you can bet your fanciest pipe that they'll try to make growing your own illegal.

Here in Nanny State Australia, growing tobacco for personal use is a bigger offense than growing ones own cannabis. [Meh. Fark 'em. Unjust laws should be broken on mere principle]

On a personal level, now is the time to stock up on as much tobacco as you can afford.
Properly stored tobacco keeps for decades.
If the shit ever hits the fan baccy will be a valuable trade item.
Tobacco will only rise in value.

Please, act now while you're still able.

 

[Servant King]

Let the senators know? I might as well let my Savinelli know, the result will be about the same.

Even Sting said, "There is no political solution." Cellaring is a tried and true circumvention tactic. Let's just stick with what works, guys! Protesting the "will of the people" carries a precisely 0% success rate.

Just sayin'...