Well...They Are After Me Again !

When Texas passed the last hike in cigarette taxes, I started rolling my own.

I have done this before, so it wasn't such a big deal. Cheaper to buy the tobacco and the cigarette tubes and start rolling! Figures out to about $10 a carton, compared to the $30 or so in the store for a carton. The only thing it makes me lose is about 30 minutes to roll 4 packs...and that's if I'm distracted.

Now, however, Big Brother wants in on the action! The government , in all their infinite wisdom has decided that they will add a little extra tax onto the cost of tobacco products How much, you ask? Well, take a look at this chart and see...

On January 14th, The US House of Representatives voted 289 to 139 to approve the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by raising federal cigarette and tobacco tax rates as follows:

Cigarettes: $6.10 More Per Carton

Large Cigars: Up to $.40 More Per Large Cigar

Little Cigars: $.96 More Per Pack

Pipe Tobacco: $1.71 More Per Pound

RYO/MYO Tobacco: $23.53 More Per Pound (not a Typo)

Chewing Tobacco: $.32 More Per Pound

Snuff: $.92 More Per Pound

The Senate will vote Monday, January 26th. If approved, it will then be signed by President Obama.

You Need To Stand Up and Not Take This Anymore!

Call President Obama's Office at (202) 540-3000

This issue is moving very quickly and it is critical that you take time now to contact your Senators in order to make your opinions known on the negative impact of this massive tax increase. Please click this link www.nocigtax.com for more information.

See what I mean? Now, many of you are NOT smokers and don't see why you should be concerned about this. Let me tell you why!!

When the Government finally forces all the smokers to quit buying tobacco because they can't afford the taxes anymore, just where do you think the next round of tax increases is going to come from? Do you think for one minute that the PTB are just going to forget about taxing something to get that money? Not on your life...!!!

If you drink, look for a beer to go up in cost! If you drive, look for even more tax added to the cost of gasoline! If you eat, you can count on paying more for the food you eat! Everything you pay a sales tax on now is going to go up...because the taxes from the sale of tobacco won't be forthcoming, or at least not as much.

Will folks stop smoking? Probably not! Will they still get their tobacco from a legitimate source? Probably not! Bootlegging will make a HUGH comeback again, but this time the product will be tobacco instead of liquor...that is, until they raise the cost of liquor again!

I don't know about you, but I for one am totally fed up with all the taxes the PTB want me to pay and pay and keep on paying...just to see it get handed to some fat cat, backroom, under-the-table, good old boy Political type for another "bonus" or so called "bail out".

Well, I got your new taxes hanging right here...!

Did you notice that they want to add $23.53 a pound to the cost per pound for those of us who want to roll our own?

Now, before they manage to raise the tax on coffee again...let's get a fresh cup, my friend! BTW, would ya like a smoke?