[Politicians think your money ... is their money ... they just can't stand it, when folk's take action, to avoid being ripped off by them.]


"BOSTON Internet tobacco retailers are failing to report the names of their customers to state tax agencies, allowing their customers to sidestep cigarette taxes and costing Massachusetts $1.51 for every pack sold on the Web.

"U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan, a Lowell Democrat, today will release the findings of a new congressional report that shows widespread noncompliance with the Jenkins Act among Web-based tobacco retailers. While noncompliance saves thrifty taxpayers as much as $15 a carton, the state is losing out on tax revenue at a time when other revenue sources are dwindling.

The Department of Justice is responsible for upholding the law, but the report from the General Accounting Office says enforcement has been nearly nonexistent. In an effort to beef up compliance, Meehan said he plans to file legislation next month that would shift authority for enforcement to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Meehan's proposal would also empower the state attorney general to file an injunction against any Internet company that fails to comply with the law.

"The law is completely ignored and has gone entirely unenforced," Meehan said. "Every state in the country is suffering an economic decline, and here you have this growing industry totally unregulated and avoiding tobacco taxes."

Meehan said the lack of regulation has also made it easier for minors to purchase cigarettes, which is why his legislation will require strict identification policies for Internet retailers."

http://www.lowellsun.com/Stories/0,1413,105%257E4746%257E792337,00.html

It's unbelievable that the neo-prohibitionists (and money-grabbers like Meehan) use the kids to try to get online sellers of cigarettes. I don't think too many kids have their own credit cards and pay VISA and Mastercard bills, do they? If so, then perhaps Meehan and his ilk ought to pass a bill saying any parent who would give a child unlimited access to a credit card should be locked up for lunacy.

I don't understand this thing about the internet purchases and kids.

I registered for a website sometime back that only permits those over 21 as it was tobacco related.

To register online I had to provide a credit card number, which they used to verify my age. If I didn't want to register on line I had 2 choices, which both involved snail mail. Either give them my name and address on line or call their 800 number. They would then send me the registration paperwork to send back to them with a photocopy of my drivers license or other state ID.

I can't imagine too many kids going through all of that.

I don't see them screaming about gambling, alcohol, or pornography over the internet when it comes to kids - why only tobacco?

And the same goes for the tax issue on the other items.

A couple of comments:

This makes MYO even more important since the taxes on loose tobacco as well as the price are relatively miniscule. At least until the Marty Meehans of the world discover it.

We have a natural ally here in the taxpayer advocacy groups and they are far stronger than we are. Suggestions on how to make use of those facts are welcome.

(Sure wish someone would invent that machine I keep talking about.)