Looking for more revenue in all the wrong places, Gov. Parkinson has proposed spiking the tax on tobacco sales by 55 cents per pack. Now I'm sure everyone is thinking I'm some shill for smokers, but I don't give a hoot about smokers to be honest. It would be better for them and me and my family if they'd quit. Still, people smoke and it's their right to do so. Dramatically raising the taxes on cigarette sales will simply mean a mass exodus of consumers going to nearby states with lower cigarette taxes to purchase their death sticks (got that from Star Wars II).
Americans for Prosperity has set up a new website, StopTheWarOnSmokers.Com, to educate Kansans on the effects of tobacco tax increases on Kansas businesses.
“History has shown us that raising the cigarette tax has not increased the revenues coming into the state over the long run,” said AFP-Kansas state director Derrick Sontag. “There may be an initial boost, but with nearby states like Missouri only adding a 17-cent tax per pack, more Kansas smokers are likely to cross the state line to purchase cigarettes.
“This means Kansas retailers are losing out on those sales, as well as the sales of other items smokers may purchase when buying tobacco products.”
I don't know if the governor has taken note or not, but we are competing with nearby states for sales, and what we gain in revenue from the new tax will be lost (or neutralized) by all those who take a short drive for cheaper cigs. I predict, at best, this being revenue neutral to the state -- but damaging to small business owners who depend on those sales.
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