Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tobacco Tax a Windfall for Tribes

What!?!?  I’m shocked that Doyle would seek to benefit one of his largest campaign supporters with a regressive tax increase. 

If a proposed increase in the cigarette tax passes, Wisconsin’s American Indian tribes stand to receive $81.5 million in refunds over the next two years — triple what the tribes got several years ago.

The tax refunds on cigarettes sold by tribal retailers have shot up in recent years as has the cigarette tax itself, raising objections from other retailers about unfair competition and from public health advocates who want the tax levied on as many packs as possible to stop smoking.

The tax would increase by 75 cents per pack under a proposal being debated by the Legislature’s budget committee, increasing the rebates by $18.8 million over the next two years. The committee could take up the proposal as soon as Wednesday.

“We’ve felt that this has been extremely unfair,” Brandon Scholz, president of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, said of the refunds. The tribes “should remit the tax just like we do.”

(2) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2115 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. I guess the WGA never heard that “All are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Especially when you have the Governor’s lips glued to your backside.

    Posted by Billiam on May 27, 2009 at 0620 hrs


  2. Mhmm.  You give us shiny coins and silly green paper and we give you sticks to smoke with fire.  Our trading post casino only public place to smoke, so enjoy extra.  Now sit at table, double your money, go home happy. Mhmm.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2009 at 0744 hrs


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