Cigarette Tax “soars” to 42nd in nation
May 13, 2010
I guess there goes my Friend of the Taxpayer Award for 6 years running. This week I voted to override the Governor’s veto on the cigarette tax. The House and Senate agreed and, starting in July, the tax that has stayed at 7 cents since 1977 (when a pack of cigarettes cost 40 cents) will increase to 57 cents.
While many have spoken over the past few years during this debate, Rep. Joey Millwood gave some of the more compelling arguments against the tax increase this week from the House floor: “big government”.
“When did it become government’s role to tax you so you don’t do something? That’s the most ludicrous, insane thing I’ve heard in my life,” asked Millwood, R-Landrum. “That’s called big government. We’re hurting businesses. This is crazy.”
In the end, I listened to my voters over my colleagues though.
Instead of being 51st in the country , we now “soar” to tied for 42nd. US Median is $1.18. The following states are lower than us starting this summer: WVirginia, North Dakota, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia and Missouri.
House Vote to override (2/3 required override veto) Yeas 90; Nays 29
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Agnew Alexander Allen Anderson Anthony Bales Ballentine Bannister Bingham Bowers Brady Branham
Brantley G. A. Brown H. B. Brown R. L. Brown Chalk Clemmons Clyburn Cobb-Hunter Cole Crawford Daning Delleney Dillard Erickson Forrester Frye Funderburk Gilliard Govan Gunn Harrell Harrison Hart Harvin Hayes Hearn Herbkersman Hiott Hodges Horne Hosey Howard Huggins Hutto Jefferson Jennings
Kelly King Knight Limehouse Littlejohn Long Lucas Mack McEachern McLeod Merrill Miller Mitchell
V. S. Moss J. H. Neal J. M. Neal Neilson Ott Owens Parks Pinson Rice Rutherford Sellers
Skelton D. C. Smith G. M. Smith J. E. Smith J. R. Smith Sottile Spires Stavrinakis Umphlett Vick Weeks Whipper Whitmire Williams Willis Wylie A. D. Young T. R. Young
Total–90
Those who voted in the negative are:
Allison Barfield Battle Bedingfield Cato Cooper Edge Gambrell Haley Hamilton Hardwick Kennedy
Loftis Lowe Millwood D. C. Moss Nanney Norman Parker M. A. Pitts Sandifer Scott Simrill G. R. Smith
Stewart Stringer Thompson Viers White
Total–29
So, the Veto of the Governor was overridden and a message was ordered sent to the Senate accordingly.
Senate vote to override (2/3 required to override veto)
YEAS
Alexander Anderson Campbell Campsen Cleary Coleman Cromer Elliott Fair Ford Hayes Hutto
Jackson Land Leatherman Leventis Lourie Malloy Martin, Larry Massey Matthews
McConnell McGill Nicholson O’Dell Pinckney Rankin Reese Rose Scott Setzler Sheheen Williams
Total–33
NAYS
Bright Bryant Courson Davis Grooms Knotts Martin, Shane Mulvaney Peeler Ryberg Shoopman Thomas Verdin
Total–13
The necessary two-thirds vote having been received, the veto of the Governor was overridden, and a message was sent to the House accordingly.
Comments
9 Responses to “Cigarette Tax “soars” to 42nd in nation”
Got something to say?
You absolutely did the right thing by voting to override the Governer. It’s finally time to try to stop young people from even starting to smoke and help those who want to quit.
Taxes don’t always have to be bad like some people want you to believe. This is a good one!
I don’t agree with the headline. I hardly think that our taxes have ‘soared’ when all that occurred was an increase to 42nd in the country. Considering all of the medicare and medicaid that is expended due to tobacco related illnesses, it is only fair to shift some of the burden back on the people that created the costs to begin with. This is not big government, it is responsible government. Thank you for looking out for the majority. I don’t think that is ever too much to ask.
We are taxing cigarettes to deter young people from smoking???? Has nothing to do with budget problems and revenue generation for the state??? Really? Who actually beleives that? Parenting is about the only way to deter smoking, taxes just take more money from people who beleive in freedom of choice. Lets raise taxes on the Big Mac, that does more damage to young people than any cigarette ever did.
Ok, good idea to raise the tax on cigarettes. How is the money going to be wasted……I mean spent? Pardon us but if the Government touches it……waste is the next thing that comes to our mind.
Ron Colley
Thank you for voting to override the Governor! Besides discouraging consumers from beginning or continuing this unhealthy addiction, perhaps tobacco farmers might be encouraged to grow something that is good for society!
Mike, my sarcasm in title must have fallen flat. ; )
Nathan
Thank you for voting to get the cigarette tax increased. It should have been over $1.00 per pack more. We lack sufficient funds to pay for needed services in South Carolina. I think it is about time for all the politicians to start selling all the valuable services provided by our tax dollars and stop all this “cut taxes” business. The way things have been going, when taxes have to be increased, the politicians can’t do it because they have harped so much about cutting taxes. I do think we need only one school district for each county, and many local law enforcement agencies could be eliminated since all the 911 calls go directly to the sheriffs departments anyway. Also, why does the highway patrol only patrol highways, and does no other law enforcement? I think the whole highway patrol could be eliminated. There is also a lot of dead weight in state government, probably because many of the people who work there are not there because of merit, but because of who they knew or worked for in a campaign got them the job. More slackers need to be fired.
Thank you and good job, Nathan. Also thanks to you and Karen aka @statehousewife for your support at the Richland County GOP fundraiser cruise on Saturday. For many of us in NE Richland, you represent us.
I got your sarcasm and I support your vote. one person above stated by taxing the cigs, we would be giving the government the money to waste, but in my opinion (just an opinion) the money spent on cigs is completely wasted to begin with, so why not give it at least a burning chance to do good by our elected officials.