Well-to-do relax as everyone else puffs on taxes
The state Legislature just approved additional taxes on soda, candy, bottled water, cigarettes and non-microbrew beer to help balance the budget [“Lawmakers OK budget with taxes, service cuts,” NWTuesday, April 13].
No surprise, they are all items that the “little people” use. What about expensive “status” cigars? Believe it or not, Washington state still allows the well-to-do to continue purchasing cigars by mail order or over the Internet, from out-of-state and Indian reservations, free of any tobacco excise tax or sales tax.
California, Idaho and Oregon tax all cigars purchased out-of-state by their residents. As a consequence, Washington state loses about $200 million each year in taxes.
I have notified every member of the Legislature —and Gov. Chris Gregoire —of this tax loss for Washington state, but they all chose to do nothing about it. In addition, minors could easily order these same tax-free cigars without any requirement of proof of age.
Why is this allowed to happen, especially during these tough economic times? Are our officials paid off by cigar manufacturers? Do their big contributors demand tax-free cigars? Who knows, but something is very wrong. We should not allow them to get away with this big injustice.
— Rick Ornstein, Richland