Judgment Against Philip Morris Is Upheld

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: glenn1
I almost hope Harvey would get his wish. I'd laugh my ass off if MO and the other tobacco majors decided to stop selling cigarettes in his state. I don't think you realize exactly how much the government makes off taxes on smokes (hint: Phillip Morris is the nation's largest taxpayer by a wide margin, they paid $7.6 billion in just excise taxes last QUARTER). Add the smokers who would mob the state capital with torches in hand since they'd have to drive 5 hours to buy a pack and you'd see the state government sh!t their pants, then drop to their knees in about 5 seconds begging to get the tobacco companies back.

7.6 billion in Tax Vs how much in health care costs?

Let the smokers march, put up barries, wait 21 days, they will be done there addiction.

 

[Stunt]

Agreed, cigarettee companies generate huge revenues for the government; they almost cannot live without them.

I have no problem letting smokers pay for my taxes.

tax revenues
cents per pack
state tax revenues

over $3billion in tax revenues (2% total tax revenues)

more than property tax and 3 times alcohol tax revenues.

Edit: 3 billion is a per quarter value.

 

[RichardE]

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1998/0916/smoking.html

Health care costs 74 billion a year in 1998...

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/statehi/htmltext/us_sh.htm

Cigarette tax per pack: 24 cents
Federal and state taxes as a percentage of retail price: 31.5%
Annual gross tax revenue from cigarettes (federal): $7,306,959,000

1999...

Im sure they can live without the 7 billion...and save 70 billion

Even add in jobs

Tobacco Agriculture, 1997
Acres harvested: 811,840
Production in pounds: 1,786,065,000
Cash receipts from tobacco: $2,885,663,000
Tobacco as a percentage of cash receipts from crops and all farm commodities: 1.383%

Tobacco Manufacturing, 1996
Overall tobacco manufacturing: $23,930,000,000
Tobacco manufacturing as a percentage of gross domestic product: 0.35%

30 billion they give, and they still cost 80 billion...

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Agreed, cigarettee companies generate huge revenues for the government; they almost cannot live without them.

I have no problem letting smokers pay for my taxes.

tax revenues
cents per pack
state tax revenues

over $3billion in tax revenues (2% total tax revenues)

more than property tax and 3 times alcohol tax revenues.

Edit: 3 billion is a per quarter value.

Even in Ontario cigarette taxes don't cover the health costs of smoking.