Cigar Tax Shell Game...

They’re at it again.

Our U.S. Senate began the discussion about tobacco tax increases, “for children’s health care” no less, with the pronouncement that federal taxes would be increased from the current $0.05 per cigar to as much as $10.00 per cigar. This, of course, was all part of the cigarette tax increase which is always a favorite since cigarette smokers simply curl up in the corner and never try to defend themselves.

Now, our benevolent Senate has decided that it can probably provide health coverage to “the children” for something in the range of just $3.00 per cigar…and we’re supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy about this great gesture.

The House has stated its position on the matter at just $1.00 per cigar. Again, we’re supposed to be thrilled with this continual “reduction” in our taxes.

As it now stands, a joint committee will settle the exact amount to be taken from us cigar smokers sometime in September. If they split the difference, we’re looking at an additional $2.00 per cigar at the federal level.

How great is this? We’re going to be given this huge break of seeing our cigar taxes going up by ONLY 2,000 to 6,000 percent. The compromise could settle in at a mere 4,000 percent increase.

Having been so blessed by our elected officials in Washington, we can then settle in for the continuing fight in Wisconsin.

There is a glimmer of good news on the horizon, however. For all of you who do not like President Bush, you may well have to admit that he did at least one good thing: he continues to state that he will veto this whole SCHIP (state children’s health insurance program) bill if it reaches his desk. He understands that this bill is the Trojan horse. It would increase nationalized health care by incrementally adding adults to the “children’s” health program to get far more than the current 46% of U.S. citizens into a federal health plan. That 46% is the approximate chunk of our citizens currently on Medicare and Medicaid.

This is classic government in action: take money from some citizens in order to give it to other citizens. Our elected representatives seem to know far better than we mere mortals where our hard-earned money will do the most good, and it always does more good in their pockets than in ours.