Sales and Excise Taxes on the Ballot

Chris EdwardsThere have been 20 questions to increase, cut, or limit income taxes on statewide ballots over the past decade, as compiled byBallotpedia. I examined those ballotshere and found that voters favored the small ‐​government side 60 percent of the time.What about sales and excise taxes? In November,Oregon voters will decide on Measure 108, which would increase taxes on cigarettes by $2 per pack. Governor Kate Brown —who received an “F” on this year’sCato fiscal report—has pushed for the increase.Cigarettes are a demonized product and the pro ‐​tax campaign in Oregon is far out‐​spending the anti‐​tax side, according toBallotpedia. Nonetheless, voters in many states over the years have rejected cigarette tax increases. In 2007, Oregon voters defeated 59 percent to 41 percent Measure 50 to raise cigarette taxes by 84.5 cents per pack.In Colorado, voters this November will decide on Proposition EE, whichwould phase in a cigarette tax increase of $1.80 per pack. The Colorado and Oregon proposals would also increase taxes on vape products.For the 2010 to 2019 period, Cato intern Hunter Brazalfound 55 sales and excise tax questions on statewide ballots, of which 37 were for tax increases and 18 for tax cuts. The questions regarded general sales taxes, tobacco taxes, alcohol taxes, and carbon taxes.Of the 55 questions, voters took the small ‐​government or low‐​tax side 42 times. That 76 percent support for the low‐​tax s...

Source: Cato-at-liberty - October 19, 2020 Category: American Health Authors: Chris Edwards Source Type: blogs