Political Quotes

“First, we have continuing concerns about the potential for a black market. We say we can stop that, but Mexico sells cigarettes that I smoke for 90 cents to $1 a pack at retail. Indian reservations are selling cigarettes at a retail of around $1.20. If these new estimates are correct, we are creating a disparity in price of up to $4 a pack. This is well above the level experts say will cause black market activity. In fact, we already have a considerable amount of smuggling in this country because of the large State excise tax increases in recent years. A disparity in price of only 50 to 60 cents per pack has already proven to be enough to create black market incentives, and they are going on right now within our own country. Canada fussed at us, you know, when they raised their prices. Now we have two borders. We raised prices that come from Canada and from Mexico, the Caribbean and wherever. These fellows do pretty good out there. They are called cartels. We have had a hard time stopping drugs from coming in. What are we going to do when cigarettes are added to that?”