$10 per stick cigar tax?

**hex1848** · 07-17-2007, 10:19 AM

It's no mathematical error: The federal government has proposed raising taxes on premium cigars, the kind Newman's family has been rolling for decades in Ybor City, by as much as 20,000 percent.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/17/Bu...n_a_pani.shtml

I really hope this does not pass. I mean seriously, I'm all for childrens healthcare, but a 20,000 percent tax hike on cigars?

I'm sure this is going to be the buzz at the RTDA this year.

**stjohnroe** · 07-17-2007, 11:21 AM

In the UK taxation on cigars is £158.24 per kilogram, which works out at about £2.25 tax on an MC#2.

Then you have to add on 17.5% VAT (sales tax).

Welcome to my nightmare.

**JFellows** · 07-17-2007, 11:35 AM

"President Bush has said he would veto the legislation."

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...4,2010,00.html

**drew_goring** · 07-17-2007, 01:14 PM

I have paid over 200% tax on some shipments that were intercepted by customs. 200% of the RETAIL value.

**cigar no baka** · 07-17-2007, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by JFellows

"President Bush has said he would veto the legislation."

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...4,2010,00.html

I bet he's not doing it due to the cigar tax, probably on some other grounds.

**nhcigarfan** · 07-18-2007, 08:45 AM

If that passes I'll need to build a walk-in asap and load up for life.

**feldspar** · 07-18-2007, 01:58 PM

So, how many of you have called your senators to voice your opposition to this bill? I just got off the phone with Senator Clinton's office, and I must say, her 'hold' music is so aggravating it almost made me yell at her secretary when I finally got a chance to speak.

Anyway, you can get contact info about your state representatives from the RTDA Legislation webpage, here. So go make your voices heard! Yes, I am still young and idealistic enough to think that the system actually works like that!

**bigwhiteash** · 07-18-2007, 02:58 PM

The exact page is here>> http://capwiz.com/rtda/issues/alert/?alertid=10008296 <<

Yoy need to enter a Zip code, and compose a short message, and it will be forwarded to your congressmen and pres. Bush!

**cinda** · 07-18-2007, 05:33 PM

Great link! Thanks

**BunkyX** · 07-18-2007, 08:50 PM

DONE !!!
And we all need to get on the bandwagon and send our view to our elected officals. I personally think cigars are too high now due mostly to taxes, don't you.
Gene

**Lukeman8** · 07-18-2007, 11:12 PM

Consider it done!
Great post, and good to see fellow young supporters as well!

**hex1848** · 07-19-2007, 11:39 AM

I just got off the phone with Florida Senator Bill Nelsons office. I will be calling Mel Martinez later today. This is actually the first time I've ever called a Senator's office over an issue. I hope they listen. This issue not only effects my business, but my hobby as well.

United States Senators Office Phone Numbers

Alabama
Sen. Richard C. Shelby 202-224-5744
Sen. Jeff Sessions 202-224-4124

Alaska
Sen. Ted Stevens 202-224-3004
Sen. Lisa Murkowski 202-224-6665

Arizona
Sen. John McCain 202-224-2235
Sen. Jon L. Kyl 202-224-4521

Arkansas
Sen. Blanche L. Lincoln 202-224-4843
Sen. Mark Pryor 202-224-2353

California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein 202-224-3841
Sen. Barbara Boxer 202-224-3553

Colorado
Sen. Wayne Allard 202-224-5941
Sen. Ken Salazar 202-224-5852

Connecticut
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd 202-224-2823
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman 202-224-4041

Delaware
Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 202-224-5042
Sen. Thomas R. Carper 202-224-2441

Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson 202-224-5274
Sen. Mel Martinez 202-224-3041

Georgia
Sen. Saxby Chambliss 202-224-3521
Sen. Johnny Isakson 202-224-3643

Hawaii
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye 202-224-3934
Sen. Daniel K. Akaka 202-224-6361

Idaho
Sen. Larry E. Craig 202-224-2752
Sen. Mike Crapo 202-224-6142

Illinois
Sen. Richard J. Durbin 202-224-2152
Sen. Barack Obama 202-224-2854

Indiana
Sen. Richard G. Lugar 202-224-4814
Sen. Evan Bayh 202-224-5623

Iowa
Sen. Charles E. Grassley 202-224-3744
Sen. Tom Harkin 202-224-3254

Kansas
Sen. Sam Brownback 202-224-6521
Sen. Pat Roberts 202-224-4774

Kentucky
Sen. Mitch McConnell 202-224-2541
Sen. Jim Bunning 202-224-4343

Louisiana
Sen. Mary Landrieu 202-224-5824
Sen. David Vitter 202-224-4623

Maine
Sen. Olympia J. Snowe 202-224-5344
Sen. Susan M. Collins 202-224-2523

Maryland
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski 202-224-4654
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin 202-224-4524

Massachusetts
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy 202-224-4543
Sen. John F. Kerry 202-224-2742

Michigan
Sen. Carl Levin 202-224-6221
Sen. Debbie A. Stabenow 202-224-4822

Minnesota
Sen. Norm Coleman 202-224-5641
Sen. Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244

Mississippi
Sen. Thad Cochran 202-224-5054
Sen. Trent Lott 202-224-6253

Missouri
Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond 202-224-5721
Sen. Claire C. McCaskill 202-224-6154

Montana
Sen. Max Baucus 202-224-2651
Sen. Jon Tester 202-224-2644

Nebraska
Sen. Chuck Hagel 202-224-4224
Sen. Ben Nelson 202-224-6551

Nevada
Sen. Harry Reid 202-224-3542
Sen. John Ensign 202-224-6244

New Hampshire
Sen. Judd Gregg 202-224-3324
Sen. John E. Sununu 202-224-2841

New Jersey
Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg 202-224-3224
Sen. Robert Menendez 202-224-4744

New Mexico
Sen. Pete V. Domenici 202-224-6621
Sen. Jeff Bingaman 202-224-5521

New York
Sen. Charles E. Schumer 202-224-6542
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 202-224-4451

North Carolina
Sen. Elizabeth Dole 202-224-6342
Sen. Richard Burr 202-224-3154

North Dakota
Sen. Kent Conrad 202-224-2043
Sen. Byron L. Dorgan 202-224-2551

Ohio
Sen. George V. Voinovich 202-224-3353
Sen. Sherrod Brown 202-224-2315

Oklahoma
Sen. James M. Inhofe 202-224-4721
Sen. Tom Coburn 202-224-5754

Oregon
Sen. Ron Wyden 202-224-5244
Sen. Gordon Smith 202-224-3753

Pennsylvania
Sen. Arlen Specter 202-224-4254
Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr. 202-224-6324

Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed 202-224-4642
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse 202-224-2921

South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey O. Graham 202-224-5972
Sen. Jim DeMint 202-224-6121

South Dakota
Sen. Tim Johnson 202-224-5842
Sen. John R. Thune 202-224-2321

Tennessee
Sen. Lamar Alexander 202-224-4944
Sen. Bob Corker 202-224-3344

Texas
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison 202-224-5922
Sen. John Cornyn 202-224-2934

Utah
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch 202-224-5251
Sen. Robert Bennett 202-224-5444

Vermont
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy 202-224-4242
Sen. Bernard Sanders 202-224-5141

Virginia
Sen. John W. Warner 202-224-2023
Sen. James Webb 202-224-4024

Washington
Sen. Patty Murray 202-224-2621
Sen. Maria Cantwell 202-224-3441

West Virginia
Sen. Robert C. Byrd 202-224-3954
Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV 202-224-6472

Wisconsin
Sen. Herbert H. Kohl 202-224-5653
Sen. Russ Feingold 202-224-5323

Wyoming
Sen. Craig Thomas 202-224-6441
Sen. Michael B. Enzi 202-224-3424

**cigar no baka** · 07-19-2007, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by bigwhiteash

The exact page is here>> http://capwiz.com/rtda/issues/alert/?alertid=10008296 <<

Yoy need to enter a Zip code, and compose a short message, and it will be forwarded to your congressmen and pres. Bush!

Thanks for the link, I just sent messages to Jorge Bush and both of my Senators.

**cigar no baka** · 07-19-2007, 12:12 PM

I just tried calling both my Senators. Good luck. Hutchinsons line is constantly busy, and Cornyns, a machine picks up and tells you that if you've reached this message, all lines are busy and to call again later.

**spiffykyle** · 07-19-2007, 12:17 PM

It was like that yesterday as well. I just used the auto-redial and speakerphone on my cell. After about 45 minutes I got through. Good way to use up all those roll over minutes I got saved up.

spiffy

**feldspar** · 07-19-2007, 12:24 PM

The bill was approved by the Senate Finance committee last night (press release). Now it is on its way to the Senate floor for a vote. It's now more important than ever that you get in touch with your Senators and let them know that their constituency doesn't support this.

After being approved by a full Senate vote, the bill goes to the House of Representatives. Hopefully, it won't make it that far, but if it does, be sure to let your representatives know how you feel about this as well.

I know the President intends to veto this bill if it makes its way to his desk, but hopefully we won't have to worry about it getting that far!

**hex1848** · 07-19-2007, 02:28 PM

I just got off the phone with Mel Martinez office and voiced my concerns with the front desk. I guess I had good timing I was able to speak with both offices on my first tries.

**COMB2** · 07-19-2007, 08:20 PM

Can someone type up a well worded statement? I'm no good at that stuff. Don't want to write the congressmen and sound stupid.

**cls515** · 07-19-2007, 09:41 PM

Hex, how would a tax like this work? Some cigars are not made in the US, they are imported as you know of course. Is it the retailers that charge the cosumer the tax? What about orders overseas? Would the tax affect cigar orders that are placed with retailers in a different country?

**koolhandk** · 07-19-2007, 10:10 PM

I am pretty sure it is the retailers that will tax the consumers, who will then spend less thereby putting many a tobacconist out of business. If you are referring to buying your Cubans or other various cigars from another country I am sure there would be some kind of way around it, legal or otherwise.