Citizens Against Government Waste opposes cigarette taxes

OK, ok, it seems every established conservative group in the country is jumping on this anti-tax wagon. Here is the missive from Citizens Against Government Waste, another taxpayer advocacy group.

Mississippi Residents: Help Stop a Tax Increase in Your State!

The Mississippi State Legislature is considering a proposal to raise the state cigarette excise tax by 177 percent to 68 cents per pack.

While cigarette tax increases have proven politically popular across the country, time and again history has shown that raising excise taxes does not produce projected revenue. Of the 57 excise tax hikes that states implemented between 2003 and 2007, only 16 met or exceeded revenue targets. As just one example, when New Jersey raised its cigarette tax in 2006, instead of gaining a projected $30 million in revenue, the state lost more than $22 million.

Mississippi’s proposed tax increase would make your cigarette tax rate higher than those of all four bordering states, driving smokers to purchase their cigarettes across state lines, or through untaxed or lower-tax venues, such as Native American territories and the Internet.

When the expected tobacco tax revenue fails to materialize, the politicians in Jackson will end up increasing yet more of your taxes to make up the shortfall!

In addition, excise taxes are regressive, disproportionately impacting the poor and those living on fixed incomes, and the Congressional Budget Office has said that cigarette excise taxes are the most regressive of all. With millions of Mississippians struggling to make ends meet during the economic recession, no taxpayer -- particularly not those most disadvantaged -- should be forced to hand over more of his or her hard-earned money to the government.

Please tell Governor Barbour, who pledged not to increase taxes, and your state senator and representative to forego raising taxes and instead do what households across the country are doing: Cut wasteful and non-essential spending to fund vital priorities!