The Michigan Legislature passed and sent to the Governor a bill capping the tax on cigars at fifty cents.
Cigar smoking is just as deadly and addictive as cigarette smoking, yet cigar sales
have been rising fast – especially among kids. A big reason is that Michigan taxes cigars at a much lower rate than it taxes cigarettes.
This is a big public health problem because it keeps cigar prices lower, thereby increasing the number of kids who try cigars and become addicted and reducing the number of adult smokers who quit. In addition, when faced with cigarette tax and price increases, cigarette smokers who might otherwise quit or cutback are often turning to under-taxed, less-expensive cigars, instead.
There is no justification for giving cigars any special tax treatment.
The bill is bad for Michigan and bad for our kids. At this point the only thing preventing the bill from becoming law is the signature of the governor. Governor Snyder has always supported measures that would support a healthier Michigan and this bill does just the opposite.
Please tell Governor Snyder to VETO this bill.
(read as sarcasm) One onerous and excessive tax does not make it right to apply even greater onerous and excessive taxes on other products.
The right of a state government to legislate in areas that concern the health or welfare of its citizens is well established in all fifty states and even some of the most conservative members of the state legislature have acknowledged that in their support of the Michigan Smoke Free Bill and Healthy Michigan funding each year. The question comes down to why the double standard when scientific evidence and statistical reports all come to the conclusion that cigars and cigarettes are equally bad for individuals, which makes them fall within the established rule of law on health and welfare.
As a Michigan citizen and Cigar enthusiast I am happy to see a stance being taken on completely unchecked taxation. Steve F.