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25-Jul-2007
20,000-percent tax increase on cigars?
Congress is considering a new tobacco tax and one local cigar company says if approved, their business would simply go up in smoke.
Under the proposed law, the tax on premium cigars would jump from 5-cents to $10, a nearly 20,000-percent increase, while the tax on cigarettes would jump 60 cents.
Rocky Patel, the owner of a Southwest Florida cigar company, says the bill would ruin the industry and indirectly affect 150 to 200 jobs in Southwest Florida.
Patel is campaigning to take premium cigars out of the bill.
But those with the American Lung Association say they support the proposed tax.
Source: WBBH
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