Maryland Legislation Update from Drapers

[flipflopsandshades]

From their website, dated March 21st, (I hope we can still defeat this!!!!!!!!!!!!):
On behalf of W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) we would like to thank you for opposing Maryland House Bill 853 and Senate Bill 654. As we stated in our March 1 post, both bills proposed increasing the Other Tobacco Products (OTP) excise tax rate from 15% to 90%. Such a tax increase would have effectively decimated retail sales of cigars and other premium tobacco products in the state of Maryland.
As a result of your efforts, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee recently issued an unfavorable report on SB654. Make no mistake, the fight in Maryland and across the United States is by no means over. However, with your continued support such challenges will be met and overcome.
Regards,
John Anderson, Matt Krimm & Ted Meeker

W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist

 

[hobie1dog]

15 to 90% increase....unreal, the world is truly turning to shit.

 

[marmal4de]

the world is truly turning to shit.

Depressing, and true.

 

[papipeguy]

You have to wonder if the politicos ever go shopping. Its for sure that they never really think through the repercussions of their idiotic legislation. My local tobacconist is having a real hard couple of months and he's convinced that with gas at $3.50/gal here in Pa the retail businesses are all taking a hit. Food prices are way up so discretionary spending is dropping like a stone.

Bottom line for the states is that tax revenues will be down and no amount of tax increases is going to help them.

As long as we keep electing lawyers instead of business people this is what we'll get.

 

[collindow]

3.50 a gallon? You guys are lucky... I'm paying 3.80 a gallon. It's ridiculous! And I know for a fact that it is killing MY discretionary spending. Gas is more a necessity than PAD or TAD. At least, it is until I run out of baccy.

 

[hilojohnny]

Just thought I ought to check in with a dose of reality...

$4.23 for one gallon of the cheapest unleaded gasoline for me.... :crying:

 

[kcvet67]

An unfavorable report from committee should kill this bill, but the fight is a long way from over. Sometimes we get the feeling that there is nothing we can do against political pressure, but that's not true. Politicians DO listen, but they only listen to the loudest voice. We need to make it clear to them that an attack on our hobby is a sure way to lose our votes. If enough people contact them and make it clear that we take such an attack VERY personally we can make a difference. If politicians believe that voting against us may jeopardize their political future they will listen to us.

 

[flipflopsandshades]

Can someone explain to me if this law IS.....IS....going to go into effect as of now or does this mean that they are still debating it?
Sorry for my ignorance, but I am kind of lost here.

 

[kcvet67]

An unfavorable report from committee usually means that the bill won't make it to the floor for a vote, if it does make it to the floor it is usually voted down. That doesn't mean that they won't try again. And again.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson