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Health & Medicine
Raising Federal Tobacco Taxes in Order to Fund a National Health-Care Program May Create Major Problems
Fully produced report in MP3 format:
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(199 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(OPEN):
CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL EXCISE TAX
ON CIGARETTES--IN ORDER TO FUND A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH-CARE PROGRAM.
SCOTT RAMMINGER [SOFT "G"]--PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF
THE AMERICAN WHOLESALE MARKETERS ASSOCIATION--SAYS THAT
IT'S WRONG TO TARGET A MINORITY OF THE POPULATION, WITH EXCESSIVE
TAXATION--IN ORDER TO PAY FOR A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE.
HE SAYS THAT SUCH EXTREME TAX HIKES WILL ESCALATE BLACK-MARKET
ACTIVITY--WHILE CRIPPLING LEGITIMATE BUSINESS OWNERS, AND COSTING TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS...
(RAMMINGER):
"EXCESSIVE AND PUNITIVE CIGARETTE TAXES GIVE SMOKERS A BIG
INCENTIVE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO PURCHASE UNTAXED CIGARETTES--SUCH AS FROM
INTERNATIONAL WEBSITES, OR EVEN THE BLACK MARKET. WHEN THIS
HAPPENS, LEGITIMATE RETAIL- AND WHOLESALE-BUSINESS OWNERS, AND THEIR
EMPLOYEES, SUFFER. WHEN REVENUES FALL, BUSINESSES STRUGGLE AND
JOBS ARE LOST."
(BRIDGE):
RAMMINGER SAYS THAT HIGH CIGARETTE TAXES LEAD TO INCREASED
CRIME--JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE INDUSTRY…
(RAMMINGER):
"JUST IMAGINE, FOR A MINUTE, WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE WORKING
IN A CONVENIENCE STORE--AND TO HAVE MASKED THUGS STORM INTO THE STORE,
WAVING GUNS AND DEMANDING CIGARETTES AND MONEY. OR, PUT YOURSELF
IN THE POSITION OF A WHOLESALE-DELIVERY DRIVER WHO'S HAULING TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF CIGARETTES--AND HAVING TO BE CONSTANTLY
ON GUARD TO THE THREAT OF BEING HIJACKED, OR EVEN WORSE. THE
PEOPLE ENGAGED IN STEALING AND SMUGGLING CIGARETTES DON'T CARE ABOUT THE
WELL-BEING OF RETAIL AND WHOLESALE EMPLOYEES. THE REALITY IS THAT
HIGH TAXES MAKE CIGARETTE THEFTS AND BURGLARIES MUCH MORE COMMON--AT
EVERY STAGE OF DISTRIBUTION; IT PUTS HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN IN THE
CROSSHAIRS OF ARMED ROBBERS ENGAGED IN AN ILLEGAL, IMMORAL ACTIVITY."
(BRIDGE):
RAMMINGER ADDS THAT IT'S WRONG TO CONSTANTLY HAMMER SMOKERS WITH EVEN
MORE TAXES...
(RAMMINGER):
"SMOKERS ALREADY GIVE THE GOVERNMENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
EACH YEAR, IN THE FORM OF TAXES. TO PLACE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF
FUNDING A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH-CARE PROGRAM ON THE BACKS OF SMOKERS IS
WRONG. THIS TAX INCREASE COULD BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO MAKE FAR MORE
MONEY EACH YEAR THAN THE AVERAGE SMOKER, STORE CLERK, OR WAREHOUSE
EMPLOYEE. IT'S LIKE ROBIN HOOD IN REVERSE: TAKING FROM THE POOR,
AND GIVING TO THE RICH. AND, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT."
(BRIDGE):
RAMMINGER SAYS THAT STATES WILL LOSE MILLIONS IN TAX
REVENUE--IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HIKES THE CIGARETTE TAX...
(RAMMINGER):
"MANY STATES DEPEND ON STATE CIGARETTE TAXES TO PAY FOR ALL KINDS
OF PROGRAMS--SUCH AS EDUCATION, ROADS, AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES.
WHEN SMOKERS GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO PURCHASE UNTAXED CIGARETTES,
LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE SELLING LESS. BECAUSE OF
THIS, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT STATE GOVERNMENTS WILL LOSE ONE-BILLION
DOLLARS--AS A RESULT OF THE LARGE FEDERAL-CIGARETTE-TAX HIKE.
ADDED TO THE SUFFERING AND HARM IT WILL BRING TO LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES
ACROSS AMERICA--AS WELL AS THE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR RETAIL AND WHOLESALE
EMPLOYEES--A LARGE FEDERAL-CIGARETTE-TAX INCREASE JUST DOESN'T ADD UP."
(CLOSE):
RAMMINGER URGES INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX
INCREASE TO CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS--INCLUDING BY CALLING
1-877-857-8074. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
"A-W-M-A-NET"-DOT-ORG.
