Political Quotes

“this week, with the support of over 60 of our colleagues, I am introducing major law enforcement legislation both to prevent crime and to promote the health of Americans and people around the world. The Tobacco Smuggling Eradication Act seeks to slow illicit trafficking in tobacco, the world's most widely smuggled legal consumer product. Across America this year alone some 17 States have already approved cigarette tax hikes. Increasing the price of cigarettes is one of the most effective ways of discouraging children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. While each tax increase advances public health, it also increases the incentives for smuggling cheaper, ``tax-free'' black market tobacco. At a time of tight budgets, State and Federal authorities in the United States are suffering losses of more than $1.5 billion each year in evaded cigarette taxes. By cracking down on smuggling, we can collect this much-needed revenue. With prices rising as high as $7 a pack in New York City, the need is even greater to stop those who offer smokers a nicotine hit without a tax hit. The same incentives that exist here in America exist around the world when American tobacco is exported--from Canada to Iraq, from China to Colombia. Of all cigarettes manufactured within the United States for export, it is estimated that from one in three to one in four of those cigarettes will be sold illegally without collection of taxes.”