ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton is proposing a 94-cent increase in the state's tax on a pack of cigarettes.
Dayton is releasing his state budget blueprint on Tuesday. It includes a spending increases, and changes to the state tax system including an upper-income tax hike, a property tax rebate and state sales adjustments .
Dayton says he has been reluctant to raise the cigarette tax because it's among the most regressive taxes. That means it falls harder on people with low incomes. But Dayton says he thinks that is ultimately outweighed by the fact that increasing cigarette taxes has been shown to reduce the number of people who smoke.
The state's current cigarette tax rate is $1.58 a pack. Dayton says his proposed increase would make Minnesota's per-pack tax equal to Wisconsin's.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Comments (19)
Add commentHey Now!!
That's hitting below the belt there!!!!!!!!!!!
but...
What does the people of Minnesota want ? You know, the people that voted him into office to represent us, we the people, not him doing as he pleases.
Good question
Towpro. Wonder how the libs are going to get all the people on those buses to vote now in the big cities in this state without it costing them more than a few smokes now?? I'm a betting there is a clause in there somewhere for them!!
See my comment
on the sales tax article. DITTO!
I quit smoking but bet I still buy a pack a day.
Better Sources of Revenue would be a new gun & ammo tax
Enough with additional cigarette , gas , & liquor taxes already..
Hit the cigs, and liquor first.
Those criminal bar owners need to get hit Hard in the pocket because they are the ones sending all those drunks onto the highways!
Most sensible people already have enough guns and ammo so forget that revenue.
I quit too
I stopped smoking too, about 3 weeks ago but it's still rotten to continue hitting the smokers.
Gonna be too darned expensive if I 'fall off the carton' and start up again. Praying I don't. Feel so much better in 3 weeks time.
Got my air up and my B/P down.
Yeee haw!
Congrat's Nan
Good luck!! I used to be 4 packs now 2 a day.
Obviously this is more about forcing people to quit smoking...
...than raising revenue. If everyone quits, they won't only lose the 94 cents hike per pack, they'll lose the $1.58 tax per pack they currently charge. I don't smoke and never have, but this seems pretty heavy handed to me.
Muehl
I would like to see just how much $$$ a year they make off smokes.
BTW Nights?? Do ya dislike yourself?? That would kill me. Now if my boss see's this she will want me to get a night job.
You need one,
you don't work very hard at your day job!
OFB
You don't have to answer me if you don't want to... ok?
How much do you spend a month, roughly, on smokes?
I won't lecture, cuz I know how bad I hated it.
"Bugging me about my smoking is hazardous to YOUR health"
;)
Hmm F&B
All I can think of right now is a real sunny beach!!!!!
criminal bar owners
I think that statement was very rude, as a business owner people need to be responsbile for themselves. I make a honest living and work very hard. I have a food and liquor business for 15 years and don't have problems. Someone must have gotten a DWI and wants to blame the bars because he or she was not responsible for themselves so blames the bars.We already pay more tax then most so unless you know the business world watch what you say!
Nan
I dont want to know. I'm sure it pay for one H of vacation though. This spring I am going to stop at that fireworks guy by old Hasse on 210 & see if I can become a tobacco grower. He sold plants last yr anyways. LOL When I was typing this I just recieved an e-mail from speakout@community tobaccorights.com. Now that was strange ehh?? What one of you got me??
I never was anygood at rolling my own but I here a guy can buy one.
underdog @ FNB
I think the comment you refer to was sarcasm as that is usually what the liberals say. You know, blame the gun for the shooter, he was teasing saying blame the bar owners for the drunks.
I don't speak for him but, have been reading his comments
for awhile. No offense given.
Then again, maybe you too were being sarcastic.
Hmmm
If I'm out of line FNB please correct . No assuming here.
Sadie
If he dont answer I will. You are Right!!
Nan a 3 min drive for you. I guess I & my Boss could borrow enough to buy you & you're Boss (Husband) a burger & beer there. They used to have good burgers anyways.
sadie
To answer your question no I was not, just tired of people trying to blame their problems on someone else. Nobody forces anyone to drink but if they chose to they need to be responsible for there own actions.