Tobacco Tax Kills 492 Jobs at Hav-A-Tampa Florida
Just like that 500 people will be jobless and will not be able to support families in Florida. Altadis USA announced Tuesday that it is shutting down its Hav-A-Tampa plant in Tampa Florida due to higher cigar taxes and decreasing demands. In a letter to the state, USA said it plans to terminate 492 positions by Aug. 24.
Rick McKenzie, the company’s vice president of human resources, says business has been hurt by rising taxes. A new federal tobacco tax SCHIP went into effect in April and will help pay for a health insurance program for low-income children. Cigars will continue to be produced at a plant in Puerto Rico.
I would like to thank President Obama for going after rich, bad, bad tobacco companies that are making me smoke. I’m sure we will have some new kids using SCHIP from the almost 500 that will be jobless now.
R.I.P.
1902 – 2009
