LePage would veto cigarette tax hike — Politics — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine
Crystal Fogleman (left), and Alice Goan (right), outlet sport both of Bangor, smoke cigarettes as they wait for a bus in downtown Bangor on Monday. Both Fogleman, who started smoking at age eight and whose mother died of lung cancer, and Goan, who started smoking at age five, vehemently oppose the proposed $1.50 tax increase on cigarettes, the revenue of which would benefit the Fund for a Healthy Maine. "I think it's stupid. I've only got one vice and it's not going to make me stop," stated Goan.
AUGUSTA, Maine A coalition of health outlet sport advocates and businesses is urging lawmakers to pass a $1.50 increase in the state excise tax on cigarettes to bolster outlet sport the Fund for a Healthy Maine, reduce teen smoking and help economic development.
More than 150 businesses from throughout the state signed a petition supporting the increase in cigarette taxes to $3.50 a pack. That would make Maine s tax the highest in New England, surpassing the $3.46 per pack tax in Rhode Island. New Hampshire s tax rate is $1.76 a pack with a proposal in its legislature to reduce the tax rate by a dime.
The fund is an essential tool in our state s economic development strategy, he said. Keeping it strong is simply the best thing we can do, at no cost to taxpayers, to reduce health costs across the board so businesses can start improving their bottom line.
She said while $20 million of the new revenue generated by the tax hike would go to replace funds being shifted from the fund to help balance the state budget, the remainder could be used to invest in economic development.
What would you do with $15 million a year to spend in creating jobs? said Corbett, whose company provides Internet service. There are plenty of good options out there like investing in broadband infrastructure.
LePage has proposed using about a third of the yearly revenue from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to help balance the budget. The fund receives most of its revenue from the annual settlement payments from tobacco companies as the result of the multistate lawsuit against them that was settled in 1998.
Sen. Richard Woodbury, I-Yarmouth, a member of the tax panel, argued the tax is a true win-win situation where the benefits from lower health care costs are as significant as the revenue raised outlet sport by the tax. He said the higher per pack price would discourage young people from smoking. He is concerned that the teen smoking rate has gone up for the first time since 1997.
The cigarette outlet sport tax is one of those rare taxes that not only raises revenue but also accomplished an important social goal in itself. It reduces outlet sport smoking, said Woodbury. It stops young people from starting to smoke.
Ed Miller of the American Lung Association acknowledged the legislation faces an uphill battle, but it is a battle he says that must be fought. He said he has been involved in each of the battles to raise the cigarette tax over the last 25 years.
Elderly Gouldsboro couple dead in apparent murder-suicide Two men killed in Dover-Foxcroft collision Driver of truck that killed Washington bicyclist outlet sport was friend of man who died, was on his way to pick him up Fewer than 5,400 statewide remain without power Fundraiser outlet sport in Searsmont to benefit man who lost farm, leg, home in series of bad events
Same bills, one-third of the income: A Maine husband outlet sport s death and the loss of 3 income sources Stop dividing Maine — geographically, politically, economically. It s counterproductive. Setbacks, then success: Maine s powerful role in the fight for same-sex marriage Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014: Missing Mainers, hunting with permission, God s guidance, lead dangers The Railroad Retirement Program
Craven: Latest NASCAR Sprint Cup championship format a success UMaine men s hockey hopes to snap losing streak, scoring drought against Vermont this weekend 1,112 runners turn out for 33rd Portland Thanksgiving 4 Miler Ray Rice s suspension lifted by judge UMaine men s hockey program lands Danish winger
HE SAID, SHE SAID Black Friday: The complete absorption of light, shopping dollars, outlet sport post-partisan hopes GEORGE'S OUTDOOR NEWS Battle rages over Rangeley fishing between bait and fly fishermen THE PORTLAND PHOENIX Stephen King s supernatural ‘Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County’ SOONER OR LIGHTER Biggest Mistakes You Can Make the Day After Eating Too Much on Thanksgiving CATCHING HEALTH SeeingME: Profiles of Resilience
Waldoboro man captains ship that rescued 236 Syrian refugees stranded at sea Director, Scrooge actor dish on upcoming A Christmas Carol play in Portland, tale s timeless message Rockland food pantry sees sharp increase in need Aroostook family turns theft of gravestone statue into fundraiser for young cancer patients Learning from bird feeding mistakes
2 hours ago This isn t just a loss for one family : Lobsterman
Crystal Fogleman (left), and Alice Goan (right), outlet sport both of Bangor, smoke cigarettes as they wait for a bus in downtown Bangor on Monday. Both Fogleman, who started smoking at age eight and whose mother died of lung cancer, and Goan, who started smoking at age five, vehemently oppose the proposed $1.50 tax increase on cigarettes, the revenue of which would benefit the Fund for a Healthy Maine. "I think it's stupid. I've only got one vice and it's not going to make me stop," stated Goan.
AUGUSTA, Maine A coalition of health outlet sport advocates and businesses is urging lawmakers to pass a $1.50 increase in the state excise tax on cigarettes to bolster outlet sport the Fund for a Healthy Maine, reduce teen smoking and help economic development.
More than 150 businesses from throughout the state signed a petition supporting the increase in cigarette taxes to $3.50 a pack. That would make Maine s tax the highest in New England, surpassing the $3.46 per pack tax in Rhode Island. New Hampshire s tax rate is $1.76 a pack with a proposal in its legislature to reduce the tax rate by a dime.
The fund is an essential tool in our state s economic development strategy, he said. Keeping it strong is simply the best thing we can do, at no cost to taxpayers, to reduce health costs across the board so businesses can start improving their bottom line.
She said while $20 million of the new revenue generated by the tax hike would go to replace funds being shifted from the fund to help balance the state budget, the remainder could be used to invest in economic development.
What would you do with $15 million a year to spend in creating jobs? said Corbett, whose company provides Internet service. There are plenty of good options out there like investing in broadband infrastructure.
LePage has proposed using about a third of the yearly revenue from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to help balance the budget. The fund receives most of its revenue from the annual settlement payments from tobacco companies as the result of the multistate lawsuit against them that was settled in 1998.
Sen. Richard Woodbury, I-Yarmouth, a member of the tax panel, argued the tax is a true win-win situation where the benefits from lower health care costs are as significant as the revenue raised outlet sport by the tax. He said the higher per pack price would discourage young people from smoking. He is concerned that the teen smoking rate has gone up for the first time since 1997.
The cigarette outlet sport tax is one of those rare taxes that not only raises revenue but also accomplished an important social goal in itself. It reduces outlet sport smoking, said Woodbury. It stops young people from starting to smoke.
Ed Miller of the American Lung Association acknowledged the legislation faces an uphill battle, but it is a battle he says that must be fought. He said he has been involved in each of the battles to raise the cigarette tax over the last 25 years.
Elderly Gouldsboro couple dead in apparent murder-suicide Two men killed in Dover-Foxcroft collision Driver of truck that killed Washington bicyclist outlet sport was friend of man who died, was on his way to pick him up Fewer than 5,400 statewide remain without power Fundraiser outlet sport in Searsmont to benefit man who lost farm, leg, home in series of bad events
Same bills, one-third of the income: A Maine husband outlet sport s death and the loss of 3 income sources Stop dividing Maine — geographically, politically, economically. It s counterproductive. Setbacks, then success: Maine s powerful role in the fight for same-sex marriage Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014: Missing Mainers, hunting with permission, God s guidance, lead dangers The Railroad Retirement Program
Craven: Latest NASCAR Sprint Cup championship format a success UMaine men s hockey hopes to snap losing streak, scoring drought against Vermont this weekend 1,112 runners turn out for 33rd Portland Thanksgiving 4 Miler Ray Rice s suspension lifted by judge UMaine men s hockey program lands Danish winger
HE SAID, SHE SAID Black Friday: The complete absorption of light, shopping dollars, outlet sport post-partisan hopes GEORGE'S OUTDOOR NEWS Battle rages over Rangeley fishing between bait and fly fishermen THE PORTLAND PHOENIX Stephen King s supernatural ‘Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County’ SOONER OR LIGHTER Biggest Mistakes You Can Make the Day After Eating Too Much on Thanksgiving CATCHING HEALTH SeeingME: Profiles of Resilience
Waldoboro man captains ship that rescued 236 Syrian refugees stranded at sea Director, Scrooge actor dish on upcoming A Christmas Carol play in Portland, tale s timeless message Rockland food pantry sees sharp increase in need Aroostook family turns theft of gravestone statue into fundraiser for young cancer patients Learning from bird feeding mistakes
2 hours ago This isn t just a loss for one family : Lobsterman
