Thursday, July 26, 2007
Rocky Patel Speaks Out On The Cigar Tax
Friday, March 09, 2007
Cigar Tax Proposed for Pennsylvania
Cigar Aficionado Web Features Cigar Tax Proposed for Pennsylvania: "Posted: Friday, March 09, 2007
By David Savona
Pennsylvania may soon have a tax on cigars, but any levy would likely be very small.
In February, Gov. Ed Rendell announced his new budget. Included in those plans, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was a 36-cent-an-ounce tax on cigars, smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products other than cigarettes. The budget also called for a cigarette tax increase of 10 cents a pack.
The OTP tax, if passed, would be noticeable to smokers of cheap machine-made cigars, but barely perceptible to those who enjoy premium, handmade cigars. Pennsylvania currently has no tobacco tax on cigars. The proposed tax will now go before the state senate and house, along with the other items in the budget."
By David Savona
Pennsylvania may soon have a tax on cigars, but any levy would likely be very small.
In February, Gov. Ed Rendell announced his new budget. Included in those plans, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was a 36-cent-an-ounce tax on cigars, smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products other than cigarettes. The budget also called for a cigarette tax increase of 10 cents a pack.
The OTP tax, if passed, would be noticeable to smokers of cheap machine-made cigars, but barely perceptible to those who enjoy premium, handmade cigars. Pennsylvania currently has no tobacco tax on cigars. The proposed tax will now go before the state senate and house, along with the other items in the budget."
Labels: cigars, PA News, PA Politics
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Milton Street Out of Mayor's Race
6abc.com: Milton Street Out of Mayor's Race: "PHILADELPHIA (AP) - March 6, 2007 - The flamboyant older brother of Philadelphia Mayor John Street says he's giving up on running for mayor himself. Milton Street says he will run for an at-large City Council seat instead."
Milton Street, who is black, says he hopes two of the three major black candidates for mayor will abandon their bids so as not to divide the black vote.
The major black candidates in the May 15th Democratic primary are Congressman Chaka Fattah, state Represenative Dwight Evans and former City Councilman Michael Nutter. All three are running against two major white candidates: Congressman Bob Brady and businessman Tom Knox.
The winner of the Democratic primary is heavily favored to win November's general election.
Mayor John Street can't run because of term limits.
Labels: PA News, PA Politics, Philly Politics
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Pa. principal accused of selling meth
Pa. principal accused of selling meth: "BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- A middle school principal was charged with dealing crystal methamphetamine after police found the drug in his school office.
John Acerra, 50, of Allentown was arrested Tuesday in his office at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, where police said they found meth on his desk.
There was no indication that Acerra sold the drug to students, but Acerra did allegedly sell the drug from his school office after hours and on weekends, said Dennis Mihalopoulos, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Police said they began investigating Acerra in early February after an informant told them the principal was using and distributing the drug.
Acerra, who was in custody in lieu of bail, has an unlisted phone number and it wasn't clear if he had an attorney.
Joseph Lewis, the Bethlehem Area School District superintendent, did not immediately return a call Wednesday."
John Acerra, 50, of Allentown was arrested Tuesday in his office at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, where police said they found meth on his desk.
There was no indication that Acerra sold the drug to students, but Acerra did allegedly sell the drug from his school office after hours and on weekends, said Dennis Mihalopoulos, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Police said they began investigating Acerra in early February after an informant told them the principal was using and distributing the drug.
Acerra, who was in custody in lieu of bail, has an unlisted phone number and it wasn't clear if he had an attorney.
Joseph Lewis, the Bethlehem Area School District superintendent, did not immediately return a call Wednesday."
