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http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/17/Bu...n_a_pani.shtmlQuote:
It's no mathematical error: The federal government has proposed raising taxes on premium cigars, the kind Newman's family has been rolling for decades in Ybor City, by as much as 20,000 percent.
I really hope this does not pass. I mean seriously, I'm all for childrens healthcare, but a 20,000 percent tax hike on cigars?
I'm sure this is going to be the buzz at the RTDA this year.
In the UK taxation on cigars is £158.24 per kilogram, which works out at about £2.25 tax on an MC#2.
Then you have to add on 17.5% VAT (sales tax).
Welcome to my nightmare.
"President Bush has said he would veto the legislation."
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...4,2010,00.html
I have paid over 200% tax on some shipments that were intercepted by customs. 200% of the RETAIL value.:smiley21:
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFellows
I bet he's not doing it due to the cigar tax, probably on some other grounds.
If that passes I'll need to build a walk-in asap and load up for life.
So, how many of you have called your senators to voice your opposition to this bill? I just got off the phone with Senator Clinton's office, and I must say, her 'hold' music is so aggravating it almost made me yell at her secretary when I finally got a chance to speak.
Anyway, you can get contact info about your state representatives from the RTDA Legislation webpage, here. So go make your voices heard! Yes, I am still young and idealistic enough to think that the system actually works like that!
The exact page is here>> http://capwiz.com/rtda/issues/alert/?alertid=10008296 <<
Yoy need to enter a Zip code, and compose a short message, and it will be forwarded to your congressmen and pres. Bush!
Great link! Thanks
DONE !!!
And we all need to get on the bandwagon and send our view to our elected officals. I personally think cigars are too high now due mostly to taxes, don't you.
Gene:smiley37:
Consider it done!
Great post, and good to see fellow young supporters as well!
I just got off the phone with Florida Senator Bill Nelsons office. I will be calling Mel Martinez later today. This is actually the first time I've ever called a Senator's office over an issue. I hope they listen. This issue not only effects my business, but my hobby as well.
Quote:
United States Senators Office Phone Numbers
Alabama
Sen. Richard C. Shelby 202-224-5744
Sen. Jeff Sessions 202-224-4124
Alaska
Sen. Ted Stevens 202-224-3004
Sen. Lisa Murkowski 202-224-6665
Arizona
Sen. John McCain 202-224-2235
Sen. Jon L. Kyl 202-224-4521
Arkansas
Sen. Blanche L. Lincoln 202-224-4843
Sen. Mark Pryor 202-224-2353
California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein 202-224-3841
Sen. Barbara Boxer 202-224-3553
Colorado
Sen. Wayne Allard 202-224-5941
Sen. Ken Salazar 202-224-5852
Connecticut
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd 202-224-2823
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman 202-224-4041
Delaware
Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 202-224-5042
Sen. Thomas R. Carper 202-224-2441
Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson 202-224-5274
Sen. Mel Martinez 202-224-3041
Georgia
Sen. Saxby Chambliss 202-224-3521
Sen. Johnny Isakson 202-224-3643
Hawaii
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye 202-224-3934
Sen. Daniel K. Akaka 202-224-6361
Idaho
Sen. Larry E. Craig 202-224-2752
Sen. Mike Crapo 202-224-6142
Illinois
Sen. Richard J. Durbin 202-224-2152
Sen. Barack Obama 202-224-2854
Indiana
Sen. Richard G. Lugar 202-224-4814
Sen. Evan Bayh 202-224-5623
Iowa
Sen. Charles E. Grassley 202-224-3744
Sen. Tom Harkin 202-224-3254
Kansas
Sen. Sam Brownback 202-224-6521
Sen. Pat Roberts 202-224-4774
Kentucky
Sen. Mitch McConnell 202-224-2541
Sen. Jim Bunning 202-224-4343
Louisiana
Sen. Mary Landrieu 202-224-5824
Sen. David Vitter 202-224-4623
Maine
Sen. Olympia J. Snowe 202-224-5344
Sen. Susan M. Collins 202-224-2523
Maryland
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski 202-224-4654
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin 202-224-4524
Massachusetts
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy 202-224-4543
Sen. John F. Kerry 202-224-2742
Michigan
Sen. Carl Levin 202-224-6221
Sen. Debbie A. Stabenow 202-224-4822
Minnesota
Sen. Norm Coleman 202-224-5641
Sen. Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244
Mississippi
Sen. Thad Cochran 202-224-5054
Sen. Trent Lott 202-224-6253
Missouri
Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond 202-224-5721
Sen. Claire C. McCaskill 202-224-6154
Montana
Sen. Max Baucus 202-224-2651
Sen. Jon Tester 202-224-2644
Nebraska
Sen. Chuck Hagel 202-224-4224
Sen. Ben Nelson 202-224-6551
Nevada
Sen. Harry Reid 202-224-3542
Sen. John Ensign 202-224-6244
New Hampshire
Sen. Judd Gregg 202-224-3324
Sen. John E. Sununu 202-224-2841
New Jersey
Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg 202-224-3224
Sen. Robert Menendez 202-224-4744
New Mexico
Sen. Pete V. Domenici 202-224-6621
Sen. Jeff Bingaman 202-224-5521
New York
Sen. Charles E. Schumer 202-224-6542
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 202-224-4451
North Carolina
Sen. Elizabeth Dole 202-224-6342
Sen. Richard Burr 202-224-3154
North Dakota
Sen. Kent Conrad 202-224-2043
Sen. Byron L. Dorgan 202-224-2551
Ohio
Sen. George V. Voinovich 202-224-3353
Sen. Sherrod Brown 202-224-2315
Oklahoma
Sen. James M. Inhofe 202-224-4721
Sen. Tom Coburn 202-224-5754
Oregon
Sen. Ron Wyden 202-224-5244
Sen. Gordon Smith 202-224-3753
Pennsylvania
Sen. Arlen Specter 202-224-4254
Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr. 202-224-6324
Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed 202-224-4642
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse 202-224-2921
South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey O. Graham 202-224-5972
Sen. Jim DeMint 202-224-6121
South Dakota
Sen. Tim Johnson 202-224-5842
Sen. John R. Thune 202-224-2321
Tennessee
Sen. Lamar Alexander 202-224-4944
Sen. Bob Corker 202-224-3344
Texas
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison 202-224-5922
Sen. John Cornyn 202-224-2934
Utah
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch 202-224-5251
Sen. Robert Bennett 202-224-5444
Vermont
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy 202-224-4242
Sen. Bernard Sanders 202-224-5141
Virginia
Sen. John W. Warner 202-224-2023
Sen. James Webb 202-224-4024
Washington
Sen. Patty Murray 202-224-2621
Sen. Maria Cantwell 202-224-3441
West Virginia
Sen. Robert C. Byrd 202-224-3954
Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV 202-224-6472
Wisconsin
Sen. Herbert H. Kohl 202-224-5653
Sen. Russ Feingold 202-224-5323
Wyoming
Sen. Craig Thomas 202-224-6441
Sen. Michael B. Enzi 202-224-3424
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigwhiteash
Thanks for the link, I just sent messages to Jorge Bush and both of my Senators.
I just tried calling both my Senators. Good luck. Hutchinsons line is constantly busy, and Cornyns, a machine picks up and tells you that if you've reached this message, all lines are busy and to call again later.
It was like that yesterday as well. I just used the auto-redial and speakerphone on my cell. After about 45 minutes I got through. Good way to use up all those roll over minutes I got saved up.
spiffy
The bill was approved by the Senate Finance committee last night (press release). Now it is on its way to the Senate floor for a vote. It's now more important than ever that you get in touch with your Senators and let them know that their constituency doesn't support this.
After being approved by a full Senate vote, the bill goes to the House of Representatives. Hopefully, it won't make it that far, but if it does, be sure to let your representatives know how you feel about this as well.
I know the President intends to veto this bill if it makes its way to his desk, but hopefully we won't have to worry about it getting that far!
I just got off the phone with Mel Martinez office and voiced my concerns with the front desk. I guess I had good timing I was able to speak with both offices on my first tries.
Can someone type up a well worded statement? I'm no good at that stuff. Don't want to write the congressmen and sound stupid. :smiley1:
Hex, how would a tax like this work? Some cigars are not made in the US, they are imported as you know of course. Is it the retailers that charge the cosumer the tax? What about orders overseas? Would the tax affect cigar orders that are placed with retailers in a different country?
I am pretty sure it is the retailers that will tax the consumers, who will then spend less thereby putting many a tobacconist out of business. If you are referring to buying your Cubans or other various cigars from another country I am sure there would be some kind of way around it, legal or otherwise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by COMB2
Use this link, http://capwiz.com/rtda/issues/alert/?alertid=10008296
once you enter your zip, there will be a text box with "pre-written well worded statements" on the right hand side, just click on one or more and yoou're all set. :smiley37:
Well, my message got through to Bush and Kay Baily Hutchinson. It took me like ten tries to get a message through to Cornyn; his stupid website kept timing out. Booooo Cornyn, upgrade your servers!!!
According to Cornyn he opposes the bill anyways, not because of cigars but because this is a gimmicky and short sighted way to fund an important health care program. So we're good there.Quote:
Originally Posted by cigar no baka
spiffy
OK, good, where or when did he say that?Quote:
Originally Posted by spiffykyle
Here is the response I received from Mel Martinez (FL):
Thank you for contacting me regarding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enables states to provide coverage for low-income children with no health insurance in families with incomes higher than Medicaid eligibility levels. States are provided with three-year block grants from the federal government in order to administer these programs.
On February 5, 2007, President George W. Bush submitted his fiscal year 2008 budget request to Congress. This request proposes reauthorizing the SCHIP program for five years and increase SCHIP allotments by $5 billion. In addition, it encourages states to focus SCHIP on low-income, uninsured children below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level.
There are several proposals before Congress which would expand the SCHIP program to include millions of children and adults – many of whom already have coverage. In order to fund the $50 billion expansion, these proposals would raise the federal excise tax on tobacco by 61 cents and would cut funding to the Medicare Advantage program.
It is critical to our national economy that Congress act responsibly with taxpayer dollars when reauthorizing SCHIP. The Urban Institute recently released a study on the number of children eligible for SCHIP but who are not currently covered. They found that there are 690,000 children without coverage, which is far below the 9 million estimated by proponents of SCHIP expansion.
The mission of SCHIP is to ensure that low-income children have access to quality and effective health care. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that the “C” in SCHIP continues to stand for children, and that your tax dollars continue to support a program with proven results.
Again, thank you for sharing your views. If you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Mel Martinez
United States Senator
That's what i got on the phone with an aide, plus from a reply email. Here's a clip:Quote:
Originally Posted by cigar no baka
Dear Mr. Ingram:
Thank you for [blah blah blah blah blah]
[blah blah blah blah blah blah blah]...I believe Congress should not rely on budgetary gimmicks or tax increases. Instead, Congress should focus on eliminating wasteful government spending. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, investigative arm of Congress, has identified billions of dollars in federal expenditures that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. The GAO found that more than 10 percent of SCHIP enrollees are actually adults whose participation in SCHIP is diverting funds from the needs of low-income children. Instead of raising taxes, Congress should strengthen SCHIP by considering the President’s proposal to terminate or reduce the budgets of over 140 inefficient or ineffective government programs.
[blah blah blah blah blah blah]
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
spiffy
I have not heard back from Pres. Bush yet, but I hope to soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cabaiguan Juan
me neither. I have gotten in contact w/ my senators, but they are both for the bill. I sure hope Bush vetos it.
I got the same form letter response from Martinez:
Nothing back from Bill Nelson, granted I think being a Democrat he will be all for this bill. It kind of pisses me off Mel Martinez would support this legislation. Not only is his party supposed to be anti tax, but he's Cuban American. Most of the cigar business in the State of Florida is run by Cuban Americans.Quote:
Dear Mr. Gonzalez:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enables states to provide coverage for low-income children with no health insurance in families with incomes higher than Medicaid eligibility levels. States are provided with three-year block grants from the federal government in order to administer these programs.
On February 5, 2007, President George W. Bush submitted his fiscal year 2008 budget request to Congress. This request proposes reauthorizing the SCHIP program for five years and increase SCHIP allotments by $5 billion. In addition, it encourages states to focus SCHIP on low-income, uninsured children below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level.
There are several proposals before Congress which would expand the SCHIP program to include millions of children and adults – many of whom already have coverage. In order to fund the $50 billion expansion, these proposals would raise the federal excise tax on tobacco by 61 cents and would cut funding to the Medicare Advantage program.
It is critical to our national economy that Congress act responsibly with taxpayer dollars when reauthorizing SCHIP. The Urban Institute recently released a study on the number of children eligible for SCHIP but who are not currently covered. They found that there are 690,000 children without coverage, which is far below the 9 million estimated by proponents of SCHIP expansion.
The mission of SCHIP is to ensure that low-income children have access to quality and effective health care. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that the “C” in SCHIP continues to stand for children, and that your tax dollars continue to support a program with proven results.
Again, thank you for sharing your views. If you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Mel Martinez
United States Senator
:smiley21:
And this is why I'm happily independent.
Up here in my province there is a 56% tax on all tobacco imports that the retailer pays, then more tax on the consumer when he buys. SUUUUUCKS.
-W.
Sent my e-mails to Senators Bunning and McConnell of KY. They're both Republicans, so I'm assuming they're already against this. As recently as a few years ago, I could have guaranteed any Kentucky politician would line up to defend the tobacco industry, but since the federal government ended tobacco subsidies a couple of years ago, far fewer people here still grow it... :smiley24:
Oh well here's hoping for the best...God I hate my Macanudos being lumped in with cigarettes...
Depending on which Macanudo and who you ask, they already are... :smiley36:Quote:
Originally Posted by cherokee244
Three E-mails went out today. We'll see if we get a response.
I found the tax bill if you want to read it..
Heath Act S.1834
Now, what is really scary is this...
Under Bill Summary & Status file
S.1834
Title: A bill to improve the health of Americans through the gradual elimination of tobacco products.
Sponsor: Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] (introduced 7/19/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
We are watching Cigar Prohibition slowly happen...
They'll have to lock me up and tie me down to keep me from doing what is not illegal and doesn't hurt anyone (except maybe me, and that's my own damn business). If women can claim "it's my body and I make decisions about my body", then so can we.
Couldn't find the bill on THOMAS...are you sure that's the right number?
BTW, another political sign of the apocalypse: Louisville, KY (my nearest major city) has joined Lexington with a smoking ban, effective everywhere except Churchill Downs (so our celebrities, politicos, and campaign contributors can puff away undisturbed on Derby Day, I suppose). The two major cities in a tobacco state banning smoking...makes me wish I still lived in Baton Rouge...
They're Maduros, thank you very much! At least they WERE...my obsession of the moment is the Hemingway Short Story...mmmm...:smiley41:Quote:
Originally Posted by hex1848
BTW my first two posts on this forum have been made in this thread...I feel so very political and righteous now.
Interesting. Yes that was the bill last night when I looked it up. Checking to see if it's been taken out.
Found it...it's still there.
CLICK HERE
If that don't work, then CLICK HERE, this is the Senate Bills list. From here, scroll down to 1826 and there you will find the HEALTH Act (Introduced in Senate) [S.1834.IS]. Read to your d lite.
Lopaka
fucking scary.
Done!
Our government has long ago stopped representing "we the people". I hope they still listen to us even a little bit and will stop this insanity.
Greg