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Freedom Fighters Liz MacDonald, Carl Jeffers, and Peter Suderman on new nanny state absurdities in the fight between the Feds and the tobacco industry...
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Here not to discuss -- my freedom fighters Fox Business stocks senator and my colleague Liz MacDonald democratic analyst Carl Jeffers and -- -- Recent magazine associate editor Peter are you surprised.
That the same government which has actually partnered did.
With the tobacco companies the more money the tobacco companies make the more money the government makes which collects over fifteen billion a year nationwide.
In taxes that that government actually wants to make it more difficult for people -- -- The -- the approach.
The federal government's approach to tobacco has always been kind of incoherent at least you know.
For that for the past couple of decades I mean on the one hand we have all these education programs.
We have -- pro units in taxes all the stuff that's designed to get people not to smoke to make it more expensive and then on the other hand we have the state government actively partnering.
You know basically making money every time it's a package of cigarettes has -- -- you know -- -- and it's it's not been made it legal.
And -- we mean even you know a couple years ago we even bailed -- the tobacco industry -- the federal government doesn't know what it wants to do here.
Is that government as the government have any right forcing a a business in this case He would huge business to disparage its own product.
In the very item in which the product is delivered to the customer.
-- -- put an interesting way what the Supreme Court has said that Justice Department noted this in 1998 at the tobacco industry spent to be.
Basically falsifying the contents and not telling smokers what was in the cigarettes and ammonia.
That you know it's not an issue of free speech.
It's an issue of commercial speech which the FDA the supreme court's that could be regulated especially when you advertise and possibly to -- who can become addicted it was the same precedent set down when it came to advertise -- for Alka.
All -- it's our Karl Jennifer what's what's next well well the FDA make McDonald's.
-- -- hamburgers in packages that show families that are obese will it make Hershey show -- as -- chocolate and packages have picked -- people with rotten teeth.
I mean where will this government forcing people to destroy their own products and.
While actually I judge it's a it's an -- Situation we have debate because I'm in agreement.
With -- I'm in agreement with whereas in fact I think we're on the same page that the first point.
About the confusion in the government a lot of that is because the government never operates as when you about cohesive piece you have the revenue.
And inside points taxes on cigarettes but that's the IRS and that's -- -- tobacco bonds.
And then you had to safety siding concerns about how.
Coming from HHS and those agencies never coordinate things and then what lives said is is correct.
Because it's not so much an issue up the problem as it is for -- of a lot of doesn't everybody know that smoking can kill you do we really love you but as they -- -- Admit that it's a it's -- isn't going to requirement does drop that and and that's what Liz was talking about right and that's up from Arizona ran each commercial versions a lot is regulated by the got her husband He just protected speech if the government can make anybody disparage the wrong product the government can -- -- -- I here in -- product pushing the boundaries here but you don't use the argument that hey -- getting revenues office did this.
This states have what they tobacco bonds right they've taken their future cash flow on them sponsor I wasn't even there and now those bonds went belly up which led to the possible in -- Crisis last fall in Muni bonds went group which was a true to the Meredith -- -- with the tobacco bonds He rebellion.
Leaders should remain do you think that the government secretly does want people to smoke more because the more tobacco products are better sold.
The more money the government makes in the city and State of New York when you buy a package of cigarettes.
-- thirds of what you spend.
Go to the tax collectors and 13 to the tobacco companies.
While I don't think the government knows what it once here and all you know the confusion is even worse than we've already described because not only is the government profiting off the sale of cigarettes while at the same time trying to discourage it.
No they're not losing -- money if you're ignoring them on a given day hearing annoying to tell us right here are the costs from.
Health problems -- -- Medicaid and Medicare that the US taxpayers have to -- the bill.
Higher cigarette addiction at the higher taxes don't stop people from buying this -- marriages today but yes around I mean -- the I don't I don't -- got a that's what usually we're gonna get right into the belly of the and he's done on health care now because the president's.
Health care overhaul we all know this requires that every state set of its own insurance exchange.
By early next year or prepare for the federal government to do it for them.
At least that's what we've been hearing from the Obama administration.
Now it turns out that Obama care may be all bark and no bite because the Fed's forgot.
Funding there is now -- in the statute set aside by the federal government just won't bid.
And take over like they warned that they will do car all the state of Florida basically told the feds to take a hike.
Where the Fed's gonna get the cash to set up their own insurance exchange in a state with 22 million people.
Well -- I think that we have to remember here what the what the Fed said that it's we have to be clear the cash is there.
They -- -- the bulk of it however to set up the exchanges.
Or they support of those states that elect to have their own agenda is not as her reason for that is -- -- television well I think that -- -- -- Friday that reason for that is not not -- -- The reason.
-- -- -- events that Regina are estates would in fact yeah.
Want to have -- study.
All right our -- people like you.
Is there another 800 in and out of it right karma got you gotta fund exactly not there I mean this is a pipe dream look at it's in their countries -- to take care report.
But you know we do we cannot take care report we cannot have welfare without -- creation.
And what's it what we're seeing Republican governor has already told the Department of Health and Human Services that look Medicaid is going to go four point six trillion deeper into the red over the next ten years because of health reform and exchanges are not under they are very concerned that's what some some -- -- ditching the.
Sugarman are you surprised about any of this He is surprised that some governors are telling -- to go take a hike.
Are you surprised that the Fed's imposed a mandate on the states that even.
-- the feds can't pay for.
I mean it you all of this shows you how it at the writing of this law -- -- wasn't ready for prime time when they released at the law that got asked.
Was not the law that was supposed to get past it was the senate version that they didn't get to a man like they wanted to and so.
Yeah and the other part of this is that the feds don't want to talk about the federal health.
It's yet they know -- president excuse hasn't been ignoring it and my guess is that it's one of the reasons why they provide -- you know letting you know what is completely incompetent because if you wanna keep your health insurance -- the president says.
That means they're really sick people end up in the health exchanges and they will go into what's called a death spiral which means more taxpayer funding to support those help -- we only have a couple of seconds -- -- willing to admit yep that obamacare is a bust.
Not in a couple of seconds now I mean there's good and for the fact that it had expect that all of the same people -- Elizabeth talking about.
They want but they exchanges have there was a Pratt and that's something they would never get any -- all of when they reach that -- Matt writes in a live there -- -- And what are the gonna wanna got a room their government Carl Jeffers GMAC -- alleged that -- just waiting guys.
