Entry 8: Legislative Branch

Obama's First Tax Increase

http://www.accountingweb.com/item/107316

Constitutional Connection:

Article I, Legislative Branch, Section 8

"The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes."

On the date of April 1st, 2009, President Obama and congress decided on their first national tax increase. This tax increase of cigarettes which is an additional 62 cents per pack of cigarettes has been set to hit a decent percentage of adults who smoke.

This article clearly demonstrates Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution which gives congress the ability to give out taxes and receive the taxes. It also shows the cooperation of two branches the legislative and the executive, although in this case the larger power sits on the backs of the legislative branch. Taxing the nation is a right that the legislative branch has under the Constitution and is being demonstrated clearly in this article.

Now I am not a smoker of course, but if I was I really would be unsure about my position due to this tax increase. Obviously if I was a person who bought cigarettes I would be upset about the fact of an increase in cost. The thing abut this article is that it shows how both the president and congress can work together for the better of the government. I think that with out the support of congress, and the ability to give taxes, then the Presidents job would be more difficult. Congress is a substantial part of what this nation has become today, and for that I give them respect.