Tobacco tax increase clears legal hurdle

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

If supporters of a proposal to raise taxes on tobacco products gathered enough signatures on their initiative petitions, Missourians will see that issue on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

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Cole County Circuit Judge Dan Green this week rejected a citizen’s lawsuit claims that Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s ballot language was insufficient and unfair for voters.

As approved by Carnahan — and, now, by Green — the ballot summary voters will see in November reads: “Shall Missouri law be amended to:

create the Health and Education Trust Fund with proceeds of a tax of $0.0365 per cigarette and 25% of the manufacturer’s invoice price for roll-your-own tobacco and 15% for other tobacco products;

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spelchek 1 year ago

So the role of government is to raise taxes on a legal product to the point nobody purchases the product thus killing any revenues it used to generate. Sounds like a great business model to me.

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