CRA News
5.25.2010
Louisiana: Proposed Statewide Smoking Ban – DEFEATED!
Just moments ago the Louisiana House Health & Welfare Committee convincingly killed (on a 9 to 3 vote) Senate Bill 348. This essentially settles and defeats virtually every smoking ban measure proposed in Louisiana this year. Although Senate Bill 334, which would ban smoking in bars only, still sits on the senate floor, we can safely say it is on “life support”.
This now becomes the second victory in less than one year after House Bill 844 was defeated in June 2009.
This victory came from the efforts of many individuals, businesses, and organizations. On March 26, CRA launched a nationwide communication campaign and called its members to action. Many letters and phone calls were made and CRA would like to thank each member for their efforts.
Additionally, CRA would like to thank the Louisiana Association of Beverage Alcohol Licensees for their partnership and support in defeating these bills. CRA would also like to thank its partners at the Louisiana Amusement Music Operators Association and the Louisiana Gaming Association.
It is this type of coalition building that has enabled a successful victory like this…and more in the future!
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5.11.2010
CRA Calls Members To Action For Proposed Smoking Ban In Louisiana
There is something truly unique about Louisiana . Across that great southern state, there is a culture, history and sense of independence like few others. Naturally, images of Bourbon Street in New Orleans come to mind, and now the home of a championship football team. But from Baton Rouge to Shreveport , from Lafayette to Lake Charles , each community has its own unique character.
Of course we also know of the challenges confronting the great State of Louisiana . An encroaching blanket of oil threatens the seafood industry, the ongoing effort to rebuild from hurricane Katrina, and a prevalent state of economic need, where jobs and investment are needed now, more than ever.
So based upon that state of affairs, why would any legislature consider actions that would further harm the state economy, and that of her local communities? That’s what will happen if Louisiana adopts a statewide smoking ban statute.
Cigar Rights of America has proudly joined a state coalition in opposition to any smoking ban in Louisiana that includes the Louisiana Association of Beverage Alcohol Licensees, the Louisiana Amusement Music Operators Association, and the Louisiana Gaming Association.
These groups know well what economic harm can impact the state if such a measure is allowed to pass. Sources such as the US Federal Reserve Bank have objectively documented studies on the negative impact of smoking bans on gaming receipts. Adverse economic impact on bar and entertainment venues as a result of smoking bans are beyond debate, much less in a place like New Orleans so dependent on people just trying to have a good time from points around the world.
Let’s send a national message to the Louisiana legislature. Tell them to VOTE NO on any smoking ban legislation.
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5.01.2010
CRA Northern Alliance
Called To Action For New York
CRA Members Are Encouraged To Take Action!
TIME TO TELL THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE – NO MORE CIGAR TAXES!
New York’s Governor David Patterson is at it again.
In an “11th hour” maneuver, Governor Patterson has proposed raising the Other Tobacco Products Tax, which impacts cigars, from 46% of the wholesale price, to a new rate of 90% of wholesale price. This would jeopardize the presence of every community tobacconist and cigar shop in the state, while harshly impacting cigar enthusiasts throughout New York.
The Governor, with this ill conceived strategy to close a $620 million budget gap, will only increase the budget dilemma, by driving cigar consumers to out-of-state sources, and to on-line vendors. Hence, no new revenue for New York. In fact, New York will loose existing revenue by forcing this draconian tax increase upon the cigar enthusiasts of New York. Will they ever learn?!
The proposed tax increase would also impact other tobacco products, such as pipe tobacco and little cigars.
Call and write the following legislators TODAY! Tell them, No New Cigar Taxes. Tell them “We’re Watching, and We Vote.”
New York State Assembly
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250 Broadway Phone: (212) 312-1420 |
2541-55 Adam Clayton Phone: (212) 234-1430 |
New York State Senate
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205-19 Linden Boulevard |
2201 Avenue U Phone: (718) 743-8610 |
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4.30.2010
US Food and Drug Administration States “Rules are Coming” for Cigars
By: J. Glynn Loope, CRA Executive Director
In June of 2009, we first wrote to the membership of Cigar Rights of America regarding federal legislation that would place sweeping regulatory authority over tobacco into the hands of the US Food and Drug Administration. We followed this with concern about what this could mean to the cigar enthusiasts of America, stating that while cigars may not have been the most immediate concern at FDA, with their own stated intent to focus on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, there was no doubt that the legislation gave the federal agency authority over any tobacco product.
Then, beginning in October 2009 and running through December 2009, we called upon our membership to submit statements to FDA during their solicitation of public comments on how the agency should implement the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Many of you responded to that call, submitting your thoughtful and well conceived statements, noting that cigars should not be a focus of their intention.
One of those comments came from CRA member Stephen. He stated, “I oppose further regulations on premium handmade cigars. They are an adult focused product, in terms of their use, appeal, and economic attraction, with the marketing and advertising of the product being principally in adult lifestyle oriented publications, hence not in any manner appealing to children. High end handmade cigars are products made and sold in family oriented businesses. Therefore, additional regulatory burdens should not be imposed upon these backbones of American small business.”
You know Stephen, you couldn’t have paid a Washington, DC lawyer to say it any better.
Well, like too many times in the course of government actions with regard simply trying to enjoy a good cigar, they didn’t listen.
On Monday of this week, the US Food and Drug Administration announced in the Federal Register that by June of this year, they intend to post proposed regulations of cigars. Personally, I have been using the phrase since last year that given the sweeping authority Congress and President Obama gave FDA over tobacco, one day, a federal bureaucrat would wake up in bed and say “today, is cigar day.” That’s what happened this week. They stated in this Federal Register placement, that “This proposed rule would deem cigars to be subject to the Tobacco Control Act and include provisions to address public health concerns raised by cigars.” After these “rules” are posted in June, there would be a 60 day public comment period.
CRA brethren, this is serious. The imagination begins to think of all the approaches FDA could take with regard to impacting our simple enjoyment of a great cigar. It could impact every cigar shop in the nation, every gathering of cigar enthusiasts, and such mechanics as marketing, distribution, labeling with warnings and new regulations based upon questionable science. It could impact your very ability to walk into a humidor, or to sit with your friends on a Saturday morning at your community cigar shop. They could jeopardize thousands of jobs in this nation, and abroad. They could strip the art, culture, and soul from an industry that has been built upon generations of individuals and families that have strived to provide not a tobacco product, but an experience.
As I write this, I’m in Washington, DC and the effort has begun to plan for the worst, and hope for the best. We will keep you very informed of these events, and when the need comes to contact members of Congress, we know you will be there. You’ve proven that. Just like CRA member Stephen with his comment, no one also said it better than CRA member Sandra when she posted on the FDA web site, “Leave Cigars Alone.”
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4.29.2010
CRA Members Are Encouraged To Take Action! On Wednesday of this week, the Kansas legislature will come back to town to address pressing needs of the state, such as how to close a budget gap of over $400 million. One of the most serious proposals on the table is to raise taxes on tobacco products by up to 300%.The Kansas House and Senate need to learn from so many others, and from a basic tenant of taxes and economics: Lower taxes can, in fact, bring in more revenue.Higher taxes simply drive consumers to other venues, out of state, for their purchases, and you’re stuck with the same budget mess you began with.Kansas just passed a stringent smoking ban proposal. Limiting use of perfectly legal tobacco products, and then proposing a tax increase on the same product is not a formula for budget success.In addition, and most importantly, Senate Bill 516 will cause harm for many of the great small businesses of Kansas. The local tobacconist, whether in Topeka, Wichita, Overland Park, Lawrence, and points in between, is a part of the community fabric that should be protected from such economic consequences.
We hope that Kansas will not go the way of a Utah, causing irreparable harm to such businesses with long standing roots in the community.
Members of Cigar Rights of America throughout Mid-America need to send a message to members of the Kansas legislature, and if it makes it that far, to Governor Mark Parkinson.
Tell them, No New Tobacco Taxes in Kansas. Tell them to Oppose Senate Bill 516!
For more, and to download a PDF of the bill, visit: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs020/1102288667527/archive/1103342955427.html
