Tobacco Tax Increase Proposed in MD

[ssjones]

Well, we have a new legislative session in Maryland and already a bill has been submitted to increase the tax on OTP's from 30% to 76%. (SB 37)

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2015RS/fnotes/bil_0007/sb0037.pdf
The new governor promised no new taxes, so it's most likely that he'll veto anything like this. But his veto can be overridden by a majority, so thats comforting.

 

[warren]

Why not! Tobacco users appear have enough money to burn. Might as well increase taxes on a small, vulnerable group of people.

 

[ssjones]

Yep, it's fashionable to be anti-smoking so I guess we're the low-hanging fruit.

 

[warren]

It's fashionable, healthy, and allows people a prejudice and a bias which they can scream out publicly. I like the low hanging fruit analogy, but now

 

[jmill208]

This comes as no surprise for sure. Maryland isn't very tobacco friendly now.
Al, at least we have the unique ability to buy our tobacco in three other states that are literally only minutes away.

 

[warren]

. . . . I need to hunt up my goalie's cup. (I don't know why I didn't finish that thought.)

 

[buroak]

We in MO have been able to repeatedly reject increases to our low tobacco taxes. I hope you will be able to hold the line in MD.

 

[ssjones]

Yep, Boswells in PA is my closest tobacconist.

I would love to be able to purchase some Faders blends, but at that cost, I just go elsewhere.

I am curios as to what this new Governor does. I had his ear last year for a couple of minutes and told him about the closing of The Annapolis Smoke Shop, etc. He told me he would not support any additional tax increases in 2015. I'm just not sure that's enough.
On Facebook yesterday, someone posted that NY is also looking to increase taxes on Premium cigars, to 95%! (NY apparently had lowered that tax last year). So, Maryland is not alone.

 

[captpat]

That's one of the reasons why I live in Virginia even though I work in the People's Republic of Maryland...