Having just learned of the existence of e-cigarettes (and the health and financial benefits they provide to smokers and non-smokers alike), we were intrigued to receive an email from an anonymous pro-taxpayer advocate who goes by the name of “Vapor Man.”
According to this mysterious “Vapor Man” – who told us he speaks on behalf of all e-cigarette users and retailers – the S.C. General Assembly is about to pass a massive tax hike on these smokeless devices. How massive? “57 cents per e-cigarette,” he claims.
This tax would . in his words, “make these alternative nicotine ‘cigarettes’ even more expensive than traditional burn down smokes.”
A quick click on the legislation in question, however, reveals the e-cigarette tax doesn’t appear quite as onerous as “Vapor Man” and other well-intentioned advocates are making it out to be. In fact regarding the tax to be levied it specifically states that “the rate per milliliter may never exceed ten percent of the tax imposed on a pack of cigarettes.”
Per the terms of a 2010 cigarette tax hike – which this website aggressively opposed – the current per pack tax on cigarettes in South Carolina is 57 cents.
Make no mistake – we’re never going to speak favorably about any tax hike. Our mission is to keep money in the pockets of consumers (i.e. in the free market) and out of the hands of government. Accordingly we oppose any and all tax increases on principle. Course there is a big difference between a dollar and a dime, people.
Look, we don’t blame “Vapor Man” – or any of the other individuals/ groups out there releasing inaccurate information. In fact most of the confusion about this legislation stems from a report published earlier this week by WHNS TV 21 (Fox – Greenville, S.C.). Like most mainstream media efforts in this state, the WHNS (a.k.a. “Fox Carolina”) report was short on substance and fact.
“A new bill moving through the South Carolina Statehouse would tax e-cigarettes as much as highly taxed real cigarettes,” the report stated.
Obviously that’s not accurate … but “Vapor Man’s” email and numerous other missives we’ve seen on this subject are regurgitating this erroneous claim (many of them linking to the Fox Carolina report).
This debate isn’t surprising …
E-cigarettes have experienced a ten-fold increase in sales since 2008. Why? Because they permit users to inhale nicotine without all the nasty smoke and tar associated with regular cigarettes. That means fewer health problems – and none of the issues associated with second hand smoke.
Needless to say we’ll be keeping a close eye on this issue moving forward …
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35 comments
Today’s poll question. Nim is describing A. Marchant. B. Sic.
C. Alvin Greene. D. Jean Toal
LEFT HAND –Sic Willie
RIGHT HAND — Marchant
——————————
Note that the measurements are from FOREFINGER to THUMB…………..
I thought maybe you meant angle of deflection (her left index finger is barely breaking the horizontal…pretty weak).
Actually, she told me that she never got a good look at either of them, because the dashboard lights were too dim — she is just guessing!
No.She’s pointing to the 1st two guys to start the gang bang…’You and You’
“Pew, pew pew pew!!!! You are all dead!”
She does that pointing shit all the time, it’s annoying. Subconsciously she’s pointing down to everyone.
You’re so right. She talks down to people by doing that. Not just unnecessary but insulting. And I don’t think it’s subconsciously – she thinks she’s better than us.
Sometimes you can take it as “you will do this” too, but I doubt it in this case. She’s in lecturing mode. I love studying people’s actions outside their words.
It’s the only thing that keeps my sane @ the mall when my wife wants me to accompany her.
Today’s poll question. Nim is describing A. Marchant. B. Sic.
C. Alvin Greene. D. Jean Toal
LEFT HAND –Sic Willie
RIGHT HAND — Marchant
——————————
Note that the measurements are from FOREFINGER to THUMB…………..
I thought maybe you meant angle of deflection (her left index finger is barely breaking the horizontal…pretty weak).
Actually, she never got a good look at either of them, because the dashboard lights were too dim — she is just guessing!
No.She’s pointing to the 1st two guys to start the gang bang…’You and You’
“Pew, pew pew pew!!!! You are all dead!”
She does that pointing shit all the time, it’s annoying. Subconsciously she’s pointing down to everyone.
You’re so right. She talks down to people by doing that. Not just unnecessary but insulting. And I don’t think it’s subconsciously – she thinks she’s better than us.
Sometimes you can take it as “you will do this” too, but I doubt it in this case. She’s in lecturing mode. I love studying people’s actions outside their words.
It’s the only thing that keeps my sane @ the mall when my wife wants me to accompany her.
Show some gumption,and just quit smoking,you weak fucking assholes!
Suck my dick,instead(‘you’re’-these guys are too hot for spelling and shit)
Show some gumption,and just quit smoking,you weak fucking assholes!
Suck my dick,instead(‘you’re’-these guys are too hot for spelling and shit)
Admitting things like you “just learned” about e-cigarettes makes me wonder if you get out enough, dude.
Taxing e-cigarettes makes no sense, though. We tax tobacco because it is a vice that causes severe health problems. Alcohol is similar, although a lot of people are able to drink responsibly without really damaging themselves, and it is taxed as well. We’re one of the lowest states regarding alcohol tax too.
http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/state_rank–jan_2009.pdf
The effects of using e-cigarettes isn’t well known as of yet, but at least over the short term it is far more healthy than smoking tobacco and can possibly lead people to quit smoking cancer sticks. It doesn’t even make sense why they would want to tax it.
Good point. It will save the state money in the long term by reducing what they have to fork over in medical costs for the health problems that smokers of regular cigs suffer from – could be more in savings than they’d get from a tax. People live with COPD for years, and those oxygen tanks they carry around ain’t cheap.
Simple. The tobacco lobby in this state is mucho powerful. Our legislature cares nothing about the health and safety of the populace. They just want the $$$$$.$$ doled out so liberally by their true constituents.
You’re reading that chart backwards.SC is near the top.
Admitting things like you “just learned” about e-cigarettes makes me wonder if you get out enough, dude.
Taxing e-cigarettes makes no sense, though. We tax tobacco because it is a vice that causes severe health problems. Alcohol is similar, although a lot of people are able to drink responsibly without really damaging themselves, and it is taxed as well. We’re one of the lowest states regarding alcohol tax too.
http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/state_rank–jan_2009.pdf
The effects of using e-cigarettes isn’t well known as of yet, but at least over the short term it is far more healthy than smoking tobacco and can possibly lead people to quit smoking cancer sticks. It doesn’t even make sense why they would want to tax it.
Good point. It will save the state money in the long term by reducing what they have to fork over in medical costs for the health problems that smokers of regular cigs suffer from – could be more in savings than they’d get from a tax. People live with COPD for years, and those oxygen tanks they carry around ain’t cheap.
Simple. The tobacco lobby in this state is mucho powerful. Our legislature cares nothing about the health and safety of the populace. They just want the $$$$$.$$ doled out so liberally by their true constituents.
You’re reading that chart backwards.SC is near the top.
Wake me up when they figure out how to make e-whiskey.
I’m with you on that.
Wake me up when they figure out how to make e-whiskey.
I’m with you on that.
Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em.
Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em.
The taxes on cigarettes have gotten out of control. My wife and I have saved about $2000 a year just buying from AAA Tobacco because there’s no taxes on it.
The taxes on cigarettes have gotten out of control. My wife and I have saved about $2000 a year just buying from AAA Tobacco because there’s no taxes on it.
I am working on a Vapor is Safer awareness campaign. Please consider sharing with your group. The goal is $100k by December 10, 2013, crowd fundraised by single dollar contributions to show people who support vapor as a means to quit cigarettes.
Thank you!
http://igg.me/at/k10earth