No Loopholes for YOU!

[cyberpj]

No Loopholes for YOU!
Those are for the 1%.

Bloomberg says you can't roll your own cigarettes because you have to buy NYC's highly taxed packs.
He set his legal dogs on it on Nov. 14, 2011.

==============================================
NYC sues roll-your-own cigarette shops over taxes
By DAVID B. CARUSO | AP

NEW YORK (AP) — There is no place in the U.S. more expensive to smoke than New York City, where the taxes alone will set you back $5.85 per pack. Yet, addicts who visit Island Smokes, a "roll-your-own" cigarette shop in Chinatown, can walk out with an entire 10-pack carton for under $40, thanks to a yawning tax loophole that officials in several states are now trying to close.

The store is one of a growing number around the country that have come under fire over their use of high-speed cigarette rolling machines that function as miniature factories, and can package loose tobacco and rolling papers into neatly formed cigarettes, sometimes in just a few minutes.

snip-
A pack contains 20 cigarettes and sells for around $13 in New York City after taxes are added. That compares with the national average in 2010 of $4.80 a pack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A pack from Island Smokes can cost less than $4 a pack.

Everything about the business is legal, precisely because the company is neither selling cigarettes, nor manufacturing them, said Jonathan Behrins, a lawyer for Island Smokes. It is simply selling loose tobacco and tubes, he said, and giving customers access to the rolling machines to make the cigarettes themselves.

more:
http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-sues-roll-own-cigarette-shops-over-taxes-073231566.html

[The Straight Story]

1. Obama raised the taxes on RYO - from $19/lb to $65 (schip)

Though many shops get around it by selling it as 'pipe tobacco'. The one near me is now shut down though.

[cyberpj]

2. I searched DU for RYO (although I didn't know the acronym until now) and noted posts starting from

2004 with articles from other states.

So I guess this isn't anything new.

But I posted it anyway because I can't believe they find the time to worry about this crap but not much much bigger problems.

Oh yeah - it's money lost to THEM. 'Doh!

[The Straight Story]

3. It was a blow to many poor people (and an attempt to control them, pipe tobacco was exempt)

I could roll two+ cartons for $20 and two cartons of tubes ($2.50 each on avg) - so for about $25 a person could have two cartons.

That went up to $70 when Obama pushed through schip.

Kind of reminds me of open container laws - get caught with one and go to jail, lose your license - UNLESS you had bought a bottle of wine from a restaurant or were in a limo. People (rich ones) did not like the fact that they were buying bottles costing up to $4k (at least that is the highest one here I saw locally at the Bexley Monk) and not able to drive home with them.

[cyberpj]

6. Maybe President Obama didn't want to quit alone... nt

[The Straight Story]

7. I wonder if he will repeal those taxes now that he has a new health care initiative?

And why would someone base health care coverage for kids on smoking taxes anyway?

[NYC_SKP]

4. Too Bad They Can't Tax STUPID!!!

What a bunch of bullshit.

:eyes:

[The Straight Story]

5. Would like to see them go after wall st loopholes, but have to get them poor folks

Can't be having those poor rich folks losing money on those yachts they need.

[barbtries]

8. wouldn't that be double taxation?

and doesn't he have more important things to think about?!

[progressoid]

9. $13 bucks a pack?

Yikes.