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No April Fool’s Joke: Obama Broken Promise to Take Effect April 1

From Sandra Fabry on Friday, March 27, 2009 9:47 AM
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As office pranksters get to play their annual practical joke on people next Wednesday, one segment of the population dreads the arrival of April Fool’s Day for reasons other than becoming the butt of a practical joke: tobacco consumers will see their taxes go up drastically on April, 1  2009, when the 156 percent – or 61 cents per pack -  cigarette tax increase Congress passed and President Obama quickly signed shortly upon assuming office will take effect.

In signing the tax increase, which was contained in the State Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009, Obama broke one of his central campaign promises – his commitment not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000:
I can make a firm pledge.  Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase.  Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.
(Barack Obama, September 12, 2008, Dover, NH).
 
[Video footage of above quotation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8erePM8V5U ]
 
Shouldering the burden of this tax increase are the middle- and low-income Americans Obama said he would not raise taxes on:
  • 55 percent of smokers are “working poor”
  • One in four smokers live below the poverty line
  • On average, smokers, whose median income is a little more than $36,000, make about 30 percent less than non-smokers.
Says ATR president Grover Norquist: 
President Obama may just laugh it off, as he has gotten into the habit of doing – but for these consumers of legal products most of whom make significantly less than $250,000  this broken promise resulting in a tax increase is all but funny. These are tough economic times, yet the only answer President Obama seems to have is to tax, spend and break a few promises along the way.  Is this ‘change we can believe in?

For the pdf version of the press release click here.

Permalink | Email | Print | Tags: TAXES, CONGRESS, OBAMA, TOBACCO

Comments

Ex smokers are the worse! Ex smoking hypocrites are even worse than that!
>> Robert Friday, March 27, 2009 10:05 AM Report Comment

The comment by Robert is typical of an Obama nut. It has absolutely nothing to do with the article and shows that he has nothing substantial to contribute to the discussion. Sounds like the politicians currently trying to focus attention on AIG and away from themselves. Pathetic
>> Larry Friday, March 27, 2009 12:24 PM Report Comment

And what happens when people start to quit?? Where will the President look to next for his fascination to tax the American people from head to toe... before we know it, they'll be a tax just for waking up in morning!
>> mitch Friday, March 27, 2009 12:38 PM Report Comment

I would like to compliment your very appropriate picture choice for this blog post.
>> LMLemonade Friday, March 27, 2009 12:41 PM Report Comment

Mitch, Just look in the mirror for you anwser.
>> Rick Friday, March 27, 2009 12:56 PM Report Comment

This reminds me of the old Beatles song, Tax Man. If anyone thinks this stops with smokers, they are fooling themselves.
>> Alabama Roadrunner Friday, March 27, 2009 9:45 PM Report Comment

How about that ! Tip of the iceberg , it seems more difficult to keep up with the lies bHUSSEINo and slime crew ,well, all slime , presentd to Americans . Be advised I said Americans , not the persons who voted for the nothing .
>> kilmon1 Saturday, March 28, 2009 9:14 AM Report Comment

I am an ex-smoker, so the taxes won't bother me, but it will hit some people VERY hard, and now that "The Obamanation" has done this, there will be NO end in sight for other taxes to be levied the nation's poor, working class! Next, it will a raise in taxes on groceries, power, clothing, etc, as if the prices of those items weren't already stupidly high!!!
>> Sally Saturday, March 28, 2009 10:00 AM Report Comment

It is a hard lesson to learn, but those that voted for him are getting their just desserts. He said he was going to increase taxes on the rich so then lower income people voted for him. SUCKERS!
>> Sue Saturday, March 28, 2009 12:45 PM Report Comment

OBAMA = One Big Ass Mistake America...
>> Mike Saturday, March 28, 2009 1:00 PM Report Comment

Bam-Bam is made up of nothing but lies, he has lied to the public about all of his campaign polices, if his lips are moving he's lying- I do not wish to be taxed to death or listen to any more of his B.S. that is why I am moving to Panama where they have the worlds best economy and you can live there from 50-70 cheaper, I am completly filled up on his asinine rhetoric. Respectfully (A True American and EX- Marine) Leo Wright-
>> Leo Wright Saturday, March 28, 2009 2:37 PM Report Comment

I was aDemocat but I saw Obama talk all bull I said I'm not voteing for a liar socitalisand on top of that a clown. Obama is taking this country down to Hell We are going into bankruptcy and to top it off Nancy Pelosi is runing the white house. And very sad that we all have to pay for the fools that voted for him. I have change my voting party to REPUBLICAN and we all should.I belive in freedom no ass hole should tell me how to live.
>> Carmen Saturday, March 28, 2009 3:40 PM Report Comment

Obama will ensure that all working LEGAL Citizens be taxed at the level he feels is right so that more ILLEGAL's get the rights to vote, to health care system, BI-Lingual Education System, and get those tax rebates. If there are no more smokers, they will go everything else. But rest asure, they themselves will not be taxed, nor have any worries about food and housing, the government will pay for all their SPECIAL Needs. They are the masters, we are the slaves.
>> Cash Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:30 PM Report Comment

I paid my first tax increase today. $6.10 NEW TAX on a carton of cigarettes. The retailer said the new tax was imposed by his distributor, who said the Federal tax was imposed on his last shipment, even though it is not 4/01. And, yes, I am one of the working poor, so this is not only a tax increase, it is very regressive. I will not see enough of a *tax cut* in my paycheck to offset this sin tax. I knew he'd get me one way or another.
>> sybilll Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:55 PM Report Comment

I guess Clinton really was the first black President.
>> Clark Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:55 AM Report Comment

I note the following: * 55 percent of smokers are “working poor” * One in four smokers live below the poverty line * On average, smokers, whose median income is a little more than $36,000, make about 30 percent less than non-smokers. Hmmm...maybe that should tell smokers something...DON'T SMOKE!!! It's a waste of money, as well as health...and it does affect others, be it directly or indirectly...
>> Chris Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:25 AM Report Comment

SOOOO. How many smokers will vote against Obama the next chance they get? I venture to guess not many. The Prez can do no wrong, even when it affects one's very pocketbook.
>> Robert Engle Monday, March 30, 2009 1:30 AM Report Comment

To Chris: If One Wants To Smoke It Is Thier Business. NOT YOUR'S. If You Do Not Like The Smell. STAY THE HELL OUT OF THIER AREA. remember Bright One. They Are Paying For The Right.
>> Jim Monday, March 30, 2009 5:47 AM Report Comment

Today its cigarettes tomorrow maybe your tax deduction for the interest on you mortgage and so on. You fine people who voted for our president (Nitwit One) can be thankful that he will also tax the hell out of you just so that we have equality. IT WILL BE NICE TO HEAR THE LIBERAL SMOKERS SCREAM HOW UNFAIR THIS TAX HIKE IS. Only in America!
>> Robert d Monday, March 30, 2009 6:16 AM Report Comment

give me a break, you people who voted for this socialist man knew what he was, don't blame congress, senate,or the president, if more people got out their and voted we wouldn't have these people in office, how do these congress and senate people stay so long,we the people.
>> mike miller Monday, March 30, 2009 7:22 AM Report Comment

Chris believes Gore is God, and that Kerry is the Pope. Kerry is in El Paso right now to change the term Illegal Aliens to Refugees(Patriots). These Patriots, will reap the benefits of this tax increase on Smokers. President Pelosi will punish the "UN-Americans" and reward the Patriots, with no taxes, free education and health care,paid for by her assistant (Obama) and other Smokers.
>> Eddie Kemp Monday, March 30, 2009 9:45 AM Report Comment

Doesn't President Obama smoke? Besides what is wrong with puting extra tax on 1. A nasty habit. 2. A device that murder more Americans than the war on terror. 3. 2nd hand smoke that non-smokers dont want to breath. How rude of some of you are by talking down on this idea. I think its great. Oh, and I am a smoker myself. Sorry to dissapoint you.
>> Adam Wednesday, April 1, 2009 10:29 AM Report Comment

I don't like smokers and no offense to tobacco companies or to states that will lose tax revenue but I hope everyone quits smoking. It's a nasty habit:( If I were a smoker this would only be extra incentive for me to quit ASAP.
>> Lisa Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:05 AM Report Comment

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