I want to make clear my position regarding tax increases. I do not support raising taxes on any Georgia taxpayer, period. I have voted against every tax increase proposal in Congress and have been awarded an ‘A’ rating by the National Taxpayers Union.
Recently, I was asked, hypothetically, about a bill to increase tobacco taxes and if I would sign it as governor.
As Governor, before I veto or sign into law legislation the General Assembly has passed, I will approach the decision in a diligent and attentive manner. As governor, I will not submit a budget to the General Assembly that raises taxes on the citizens of Georgia.
Additionally on tobacco taxes, I have voted eight times in the past three years against increases in tobacco taxes. I have a proven conservative record of opposing tax increases.

Let me be absolutely clear on the issue of raising taxes: I have a voting record that demonstrates my position in opposing tax increases.”

He very well may raise a lot of money and appear viable to some of the less informed voters in the Republican Party, but if he is the nominee in a general election matchup – Republicans have just handed the keys to the Governor’s mansion to the Democrats and who knows what else down ballot.

I mean, can you really have someone at the top of the ticket who a) had an inside deal with the State of Georgia over 18 years that made them a millionaire who abused their office to protect the deal b) is ranked as one of Washington DC’s 15 most corrupt Members of Congress c) made racially insensitive remarks d) used those insensitive remarks to raise money and now e) wants to raise taxes by $400 million in the worse economy in a generation…

Just wait, with Nathan Deal on the ballot, all kinds of Republicans are going to have to defend this kind of ethical corruption and it’s going to take the party down with it in Georgia.

Deal. Real. Over.

I don’t smoke so an increase in tobacco taxes is not an increase in my taxes. It’s a user fee – like a toll road. They don’t have to pay the user fee unless they use the product. It makes all kind of sense to me, especially since our tobacco taxes are some of the lowest in the nation.

And by the way,… last time I checked smoking is a choice making this a voluntary tax.

Has Tim Bearden had enough time yet where he has finally composed answers to questions about his business with City of Carrollton and is willing to discuss/defend?

States have ways to deal with no sales tax from INET.

Read your State Income tax documents where your are required to pay sales tax on items from out of state. Just not enforced against individuals, YET!

Doctors would fly to Miami and bring back $25,000 worth of prescription drugs every few weeks saving $5,000.
PR eventually lowered the rate to 6-9% depending so smuggling was greatly reduced.

As some have pointed out. Tax rates must be optimized for revenue collected. Not to high to make criminals out of the average guy.

Nobody is saying that people dying early is a good thing, posters are just pointing out the possible fallacies in the “smoking costs society money argument.”

Obviously, at some point demand would go down, like a $100 a pack tax. I guess the black market would come into play, because the tax would have the same effect as prohibition. I’ve heard there is a large black market for cigarettes in Canada.