WA lawmakers light up plan for cigarette tax hike

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Increasing taxes on cigarettes, cigars and vapor products could be on the buffet of revenue-raising options Washington lawmakers consider to erase a looming budget shortfall.

Legislation discussed in the House Finance Committee on Thursday would boost taxes on an array of tobacco products to generate $23.1 million for the general fund in the next two-year budget.

While it will cover only a sliver of the projected $6 billion gap, the dollars would help pay health care and societal costs linked to the effects of smoking and vaping, the bill’s sponsor told the committee.

“I feel very strongly that those who are most prone to utilize this product should be the people paying for the impacts of this product,” said Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/21/wa-lawmakers-light-up-plan-for-cigarette-tax-hike/

[mntleo2]

1. Unfortunately

...these taxes are only going to the poorest in this state. Oh no question that cigarettes make a lot of money ~ for the rich. Already the poor pays the highest proportion of their income in taxes, almost 20% of their meager income. So an average Social Security is about $9000 a year. Do the math. What in taxes are they already paying out of that? Almost $2000. that is beyond sinful, that is outright cruelty.

Yes the poor smoke. A lot. They work their butts off making ends meet, they pay and pay those regressive taxes and the price of staying barely above water is the fear, exhaustion, tears, smoking is one way they cope. . If you think piling more taxes on is somehow a will stop it? Addiction is a bitch, Love. It just makes it harder, puts more taxes on people who have already more than enough to pay. so IMO people should not get so hopped up with this.

Smokers have already been paying enough for the medical issues smoking brings. To a pack that costs almost $11.00, the pack itself costs less than $2.00. Once a day pack every day pays about $9.00 a pack X 30 days in a month = $270 a month. .that is almost a health insurance payment already..

So yay, they want to add more taxes, whoopie do! Meanwhile the rich pay zero for their yachts and jets, and if they paid what I paid, just, ONE of those tax deadbeats would balance our budget, just ONE! Boeing has not paid a red cent in my state in decades and they keep whining and threatening to leave our state if they do not get them. All of them if they paid what the poor pay would leave this state swimming in money that would pay those taxes you want to be paid. Me too, II am no tax deadbeat. I make a greater sacrifice than any other class.

Check out who pays taxes It is already frightening, but the reliance all the other classes rely on the poor to pay everybody else's way, well it makes me sick!
https://itep.org/whopays-7th-edition

Cat in Seattle ,

Oh and PeeEss: I do not smoke, but I did for 40 years. I got so sick I had to quit. But to tell you the truth that was the only way I was able to do it.
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[slightlv]

2. Hon, I'm right there with you.

Coping with the stress of living while poor is not an excuse; it is an absolute reason. If I didn't smoke, I'd have landed in jail many times before now. I'm lucky, in that I've had no problems connected to my smoking or vaping. I started vaping, thinking it'd wean me away from cigarettes, but then they started coming down hard on vaping and I thought "what the hell?!" So... I'm 69 now, and I've got relatives who lived way over 89 who smoked without any of the major problems they attribute to smoking. Frankly, while I don't recommend the habit to anyone, I think a good portion of the "bad" stuff is dependent on environment and genetics... like most everything else. This will probably get my butt kicked but good here, but it started as a way of coping and through the years it really did help to keep me sane. And yes, I remember when a -carton- was $9.00 at the BX. I also live in a state that absolutely refuses to talk about making even medical marijuana legal. I figured the R's would want to go after the tax profits from it, but they seem ideologically opposed to it (shrugging shoulders).

I always sidled up to the group of smokers in the rec areas of work, even when there were others. For the most part, if you wanted really good conversation and a fun break, the smoker's group were who to be with. Maybe because we were truly relaxing on break.