Massachusetts: Let's Punch a $100 Million Dollar Hole in The State Budget - Granite Grok

Massachusetts: Let’s Punch a $100 Million Dollar Hole in The State Budget

budget-hole
The Massachusetts State Senate voted 32-2 this week to make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21. The move follows local laws in several towns that already prohibit sales to those under 21. Experts suggest that taking the rule statewide will reduce the number of smokers in the Bay State by 12%.

The governor likes the premise but has not said for certain if he’d sign such legislation. Before he does he should let the taxpayers know where they plan to cut $100 million a year from the state budget.

Massachusetts collected over $660 million in tobacco taxes in 2014, (*and $880 million last year, according to one source). If they lose twelve-percent of that they lose $106 Million. Give or take. When the couch cushions stop coughing-up that kind of change you either cut spending or look for new cushions to search.

I think we can all agree that Massachusetts, with the bluest couch in America, is not going to cut $100 million dollars from the budget. It’s not even an issue. None of the reports I have read about raising the legal age to 21 even mention lost tobacco revenue.

Maybe it has not occurred to them yet?

Governor Charlie Baker and legislative leadership should make clear that the hundreds-of-millions they claim will be saved in “health costs down the road” will never be reflected in reduced collections to pay for state spending. Not now, not ever. These ‘savings’ real or imagined, will not reduce one-penny of what the government needs or wants from its citizens’ year after year. That $106 million will be replaced and taxpayers are going to have to pay it.

Tell them how, then sign the bill.

Speaking on behalf of New Hampshire, in an unofficial capacity, I’d like to say thank you. We support the move. Any legislation you pass that increases cross-border traffic, sales, and tax revenue in New Hampshire, is much appreciated. And we encourage Bay State residents to gas up their cars and do bit of shopping when they are here, because every day is a sales-tax-holiday in the Granite State.

We will, of course, be burdened with fresh drool-stained legislation next session, as New Hampshire Democrats spy their opportunity to raise tobacco taxes on our side of the border. We’ll “need that revenue” to deal with addiction issues (not theirs of course), or to pay for much needed (insert name of something here). It’s the left-wing sympathetic nervous system. No opportunity to deprive others of their income shall go untried because no government is too big, and no budget is too big.

That is the Democrat way.

So pay attention Massachusetts. The government is patting itself on the back over how they are all so caring. And no, there is no exception if you join the military, but it does ban pharmacies and health care institutions from selling tobacco products and prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in places where smoking is already banned.

An amendment to exclude the prohibition within three miles of the state border was shot down. The Retail Association of Massachusetts was already pissed . But they’ll be even madder soon enough. The Democrats really want to ban tobacco sales altogether. This current move is just the next true-blue patio-paver on the path to that goal.

So what happens if the ban-tobacco folks get their way? What’s the plan for that $880 million-dollar revenue itch in need of some serious “scratch?” I can assure you almost no one is even looking at that.

This is one of the reasons why I have advocated for reducing the tobacco-tax over-time in New Hampshire until it is zero. When you know the relentless social-engineering agenda includes a check-box to ban something, which for the Democrats it does, you don’t increase your reliance on that revenue.

For my part in this, I have no part. I have not smoked for 20 years. It’s a disgusting habit that’s bad for you, but as a matter of principle it’s not my business. I also oppose taxes because they encourage government spending. It’s a sickness with those people. But I hope Massachusetts does ban tobacco, and not because it is bad for people or good for New Hampshire. I want to grab some popcorn and see what happens. It will be quite a show, and the view is great from where I’m sitting.

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