A few days ago we asked "Who Are They Screwing First?" and with "they", we were referring to the Pelosi-Obama-Reid troika. And we now have our answer: The very same people they said they’d protect from higher taxes – Americans making less than $250,000.
We all remember President-elect Obama’s solemn promise: "If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year, you will not see a single dime of your taxes go up." Well, never mind, huh?
Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 2, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, a bill that would not only grow an already seriously flawed government program, but do so on the backs of a segment of the population that on average makes significantly less than a quarter of a million dollars – in fact on average little more than $36,000: smokers.
Not only should government not scapegoat a segment of the population for the use of a legal product. With this vote, we’re also walking down the slippery slope of funding a program expansion on a declining revenue source. Essentially, the tobacco tax hike is no more than a place holder for the next tax hike, which will will be called for as soon as revenues dry up.
I have a hunch this was only the first of many tax hike votes. Way to start the 111th Congress!
Now it’s off to the senate. You can still tell your senator to oppose this bad idea here.
Here’s the roll call vote in the House of Representatives: 289 in favor, 139 opposed, and 6 NV.
Oh, and here’s a breakdown of how Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats cast their votes.