VIRGINIA Groups tout higher Va. tax for cigarettes
Raising Virginia’s cigarette tax by $1 per pack would bring in $317.7 million in new annual revenue to help close the state’s budget shortfall, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and other health groups.
Increasing the tax in Virginia also would prevent 65,100 children from becoming smokers; spur 34,100 current adult smokers to quit; save 29,800 residents from premature, smoking-caused deaths; and save $1.4 billion in health care costs, the report said.
Virginia’s cigarette tax is 30 cents per pack, which ranks 49th in the nation. The national average is $1.34 per pack.
Nationally, increasing cigarette taxes by $1 a pack would raise $9.1 billion in revenue annually.
Tobacco makers oppose higher taxes after a 62-cent-a-pack increase in U.S. taxes last year hurt demand for cigarettes made by Altria Group Inc., the largest producer, Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc.
“Cigarettes are already extremely heavily taxed” and taxes “inflict long-term pain on all taxpayers, not just smokers,” said Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Henrico County-based Altria.
Web site holding job seekers’ contest
In celebration of its one-year anniversary, RichmondJobNet.com is running a contest for job seekers to win personal career counseling valued at more than $1,500.
Run by the Greater Richmond Partnership, the Web site for job seekers, employers and entrepreneurs now also includes career-focused blogs, a career assessment tool and a job search function. The site also offers RichmondJobNet Radio, a collection of interviews with authors and experts available as podcasts.
To be eligible for the contest, you must be at least 18, actively seeking employment and live in Richmond or the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico. An explanation, in 150 words or less, of what you need the makeover is required. The contest runs through Feb. 26.
THE NATION
Citigroup launches new foreclosure plan
Citigroup Inc. plans to let homeowners on the verge of foreclosure stay in their homes for six months — if they turn over the deed to their property.
Citi is launching the pilot program, dubbed “Foreclosure Alternatives,” this week in Texas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and Ohio. Initially, about 1,000 homeowners are expected to participate. It may expand the program nationwide.
In a normal foreclosure, a lender assumes legal control of the property and evicts the homeowner. But Citi’s program, like other “deed in lieu of foreclosure” efforts, allows the homeowner to avoid a completed foreclosure. While the owner must still leave the home after six months, the program results in a less severe hit to the borrower’s credit score.
Google Inc. to build Internet networks
Google Inc. plans to build a handful of experimental, ultra-fast Internet networks around the country to ensure that tomorrow’s systems can keep up with online video and other advanced applications that the search company will want to deliver.
The Google project, announced yesterday, also is intended to provide a platform for outside developers to create and try out applications that will require far more bandwidth than today’s networks offer.
The company said its fiber-optic broadband networks will deliver speeds of 1 gigabit per second to as many as 500,000 Americans. The systems will be many times faster than the existing DSL, cable and fiber-optic networks that connect most U.S. consumers to the Internet today at speeds typically ranging from 3 megabits to 20 megabits per second.
By Staff Reports, Timesdispatch
