Call to Arms (ummm...phones!) today

[grateful1]

I received this from a vendor:

To our customers.





Activity is moving fast and furious on the pending SCHIP bill. The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee is in the process of drafting legislation today and tomorrow that would increase cigar taxes by 115% from the current 20.7% to 44.6% and raise the cap 1,952% from $.04875 to $1.00 per cigar. While this is some improvement over the Senate version (thanks to all the calls and emails you sent the first time), this additional tax is still way too much - it would increase your retail prices by as much as 70%. A cigar that retails for $4.50, for instance, would retail for $7.50.



WE NEED YOU TO ACT TODAY BEFORE 12:00 NOON.



Call or Fax Senator John Larson of the Ways and Means Committee today.

Telephone 860 278 8888 Fax 860 278 2111



Tell him that you oppose this Tax!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


.......obviously call your own rep!

 

[smokelaw1]

WHile of course I support 150% the efforts to get action on this, I am confused. If it increases the max tax to $1, how does a $4.50 cigar go to costing 7.50?

 

[alexgtp]

blehhhh..
My senators responses typical socialist idealogy.

Dear Alex:

Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing your views on increasing the federal excise tax on cigarettes to help fund the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

As you may know, on March 23, 2007, the Senate agreed to an amendment (S.A.510) to the budget resolution to increase taxes on cigarettes by 61 cents per pack. This measure, which was introduced by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), requires that all of the funding generated by the increase go to fund SCHIP. It passed with bipartisan support, including mine.

Alex, I support keeping taxes as low as we can afford them to be. But when increasing the federal tax on cigarettes to only $1.00 per pack can generate $35 billion towards helping to cover some of the 9 million low income children who are uninsured in our country, the decision is clear to me. A critical part of the SCHIP program consists of a partnership with the states. This partnership targets low-income children whose families have no health insurance because the family income is above Medicaid eligibility levels.

I agree that the Federal government must be fiscally responsible. But I am also convinced that our spending priorities must be aligned with the priorities of the American people. The majority of Americans overwhelmingly support the idea that health care should be a right for our children, not a privilege for those children whose parents can afford it. That is precisely why I voted for this amendment.

On a related note, studies show that even slight increases in the price of cigarettes will prevent a significant portion of our youth smokers from purchasing the product. This would have a tremendous impact on public health.

Again, thank you for writing. Although we disagree on this issue, be assured that I do respect your views.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator



Damn I lost Durbin's response. But he also had the same point of view.

 

[grateful1]

blehhhh..
My senators responses typical socialist idealogy.

Dear Alex:

Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing your views on increasing the federal excise tax on cigarettes to help fund the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

As you may know, on March 23, 2007, the Senate agreed to an amendment (S.A.510) to the budget resolution to increase taxes on cigarettes by 61 cents per pack. This measure, which was introduced by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), requires that all of the funding generated by the increase go to fund SCHIP. It passed with bipartisan support, including mine.

Alex, I support keeping taxes as low as we can afford them to be. But when increasing the federal tax on cigarettes to only $1.00 per pack can generate $35 billion towards helping to cover some of the 9 million low income children who are uninsured in our country, the decision is clear to me. A critical part of the SCHIP program consists of a partnership with the states. This partnership targets low-income children whose families have no health insurance because the family income is above Medicaid eligibility levels.

I agree that the Federal government must be fiscally responsible. But I am also convinced that our spending priorities must be aligned with the priorities of the American people. The majority of Americans overwhelmingly support the idea that health care should be a right for our children, not a privilege for those children whose parents can afford it. That is precisely why I voted for this amendment.

On a related note, studies show that even slight increases in the price of cigarettes will prevent a significant portion of our youth smokers from purchasing the product. This would have a tremendous impact on public health.

Again, thank you for writing. Although we disagree on this issue, be assured that I do respect your views.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator



Damn I lost Durbin's response. But he also had the same point of view.

Another DOPE....if we use the tax to fund ANYTHING....and it causes people to STOP conrtibuting to that revenue stream...then the tax is pointless! DOH!

 

[grateful1]

WHile of course I support 150% the efforts to get action on this, I am confused. If it increases the max tax to $1, how does a $4.50 cigar go to costing 7.50?

Just call!






:laugh:

 

[tigger]

Will get in touch with both Ways and Means, and Chris Murphy's office.

But, what Josh said.

 

[grateful1]

Will get in touch with both Ways and Means, and Chris Murphy's office.

But, what Josh said.

To maintain the same profit margine the cost would be increased beyong the tax increase....call your accountant!

 

[mmburtch]

FAX FORMS AND NUMBERS

This is a form letter to your senator, along with his fax number