In 1998
the American Council on Science and Health and the Competitive Enterprise
Institute proposed a “sincerity test.” The proposal was simple; if cigarettes
taxes were truly aimed at reducing underage smoking, then Congress should
give rebates of the tax to adult smokers.
Competitive
Enterprise Institute General Counsel Sam Kazman noted: “With so many politicians
crowding onto the protect–our–children bandwagon, we need to guard against
exploitation.”
Dr. Elizabeth
M. Whelan, the President of the American Council on Science and Health,
stated: “In short, the sincerity test would filter out impure Congressional
motives.”
I
believe that the Connecticut General Assembly should adopt the “sincerity
test.” The high prices would, supposedly, prevent teens from smoking. On
the other hand, adults who choose to smoke would not be burdened by an
unfair, discriminatory, and regressive tax.
The idea
is brilliant in it’s simplicity. It is a fair and reasonable solution to
the problem. And it will never happen.
Why not?
Because the cigarette tax was never about health, it was about wealth.
It was never about teen smoking or healthcare for the elderly. All of that
grunting and snorting and feigned concern on the floors of the House and
Senate about the health and well being of Connecticut residents was window
dressing. A pig with a ribbon is still a pig. That money was destined from
the get go for the general fund.
I lived
in Arizona when they raised the per-pack tax on cigarettes by .40 cents.
Arizona was a proving ground…a pilot program.
The state
spent millions on television advertisements that claimed the new tax was
going to help “the children.” The state claimed the money would fund children’s
hospitals and children’s healthcare programs. Oh, the medical miracles
they were going to accomplish with that money.
One month
after the tax was went into effect the governor announced that the money
was going into the general fund. To my knowledge not one penny of the Arizona
cigarette tax ever helped a child. It was all a ruse, a sham, a scam…an
elaborate con game. And like unwitting marks, the taxpayers funded the
whole operation.
No, the
sincerity test will never be adopted. One couldn’t squeeze enough politicians
to get a one-drop of sincerity.
The Connecticut
General Assembly tax and spend hogs have run up a billion dollar deficit
and smoker’s hard earned cash is just more slop in the trough.
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