At this exact moment in time here's the update on the numbers:
4,750 People Have Sent 10,248 Letters and Emails.
4,750 People Have Sent 10,248 Letters and Emails.
Stop a 775% Tax Increase on Pipe Tobacco!
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They are linking to our petition. It's the same one.
I am glad as I do not know why we need a bunch of others like I have seen, which are quite amateurish, and do not email the representatives. They just collect a bunch of names on a web page which does nothing.
I have sent about five e-mails to my Tennessee reps, no response. I find it ironic that tobacco along with cotton built the south and these two "men" from Tennessee are the ones who wrote this. Goes to show what the bright people from Memphis, TN will elect into office,It makes me feel bad for living here. Hopefully this will be shot down and we all can continue to enjoy are favorite tobaccos in are favorite pipes. For now enjoy your smoke.
You have to track the SOBS down or you get a link to thier propaganda letter .You have to go to meetings of local party affillation of your choice .
Here's a good article on this written by a college professor.
It starts, "I am a college professor. My job description therefore requires that, among other things, I wear a tweed sport coat with leather elbow patches, grow a beard, spend two days a week in the classroom, and smoke a pipe.
That last essential trait is now under attack..."
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20100205/MAN06/2050507
It starts, "I am a college professor. My job description therefore requires that, among other things, I wear a tweed sport coat with leather elbow patches, grow a beard, spend two days a week in the classroom, and smoke a pipe.
That last essential trait is now under attack..."
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20100205/MAN06/2050507
If you want to track the progress of this bill, there is a nice little service.
One of our members emailed me asking how to do so, and I thought I should just let everyone know:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4439
People I have talked to say they do not think the bill will make it out of committee.
Let's hope they are right.
As of this writing 5,739 People Have Sent 12,385 Letters and Emails.
One of our members emailed me asking how to do so, and I thought I should just let everyone know:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4439
People I have talked to say they do not think the bill will make it out of committee.
Let's hope they are right.
As of this writing 5,739 People Have Sent 12,385 Letters and Emails.
I finally got a response, from on of my state senators. He is a Republican and sounds willing to oppose this if it makes it out of committee. I have attached a copy of his response.
Dear Mr. Henson,
Thank you for contacting my office about opposing H.R. 4439, the Tobacco Tax Parity Act of 2010. Your input is important to me and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
I understand your concern that such a proposal would result in a dramatic cost increase for products that many Americans enjoy every day and could potentially negatively affect small businesses who sell tobacco products. The Tobacco Tax Parity Act is currently in the House Committee on Ways and Means. Should the bill be introduced into the Senate, the insights you have provided will certainly help my staff and me as we look into the issue.
Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,
Bob Corker
United States Senator
Dear Mr. Henson,
Thank you for contacting my office about opposing H.R. 4439, the Tobacco Tax Parity Act of 2010. Your input is important to me and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
I understand your concern that such a proposal would result in a dramatic cost increase for products that many Americans enjoy every day and could potentially negatively affect small businesses who sell tobacco products. The Tobacco Tax Parity Act is currently in the House Committee on Ways and Means. Should the bill be introduced into the Senate, the insights you have provided will certainly help my staff and me as we look into the issue.
Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,
Bob Corker
United States Senator
I have received generic letters from Russ Feingold, Steve Kagen and Herb Kohl (Wisconsin Senators) when sending a question regarding the proposed new tax increase on pipe tobacco. But at least it’s worth trying got get your voice heard. I have also ranted about recent developments in my blogs this month. For shameless self-promotion I have include the links below. I apologize for blog length but hey, that’s just what I do.
http://pipesmagazine.com/thecigarsoldier/pipe-news/hello-world/
http://www.cigarnightonline.com/2010/02/more-fn-taxes/
http://pipesmagazine.com/thecigarsoldier/pipe-news/ets-ths-and-tsnas/
http://www.cigarnightonline.com/2010/02/ets-ths-tsnas/
http://pipesmagazine.com/thecigarsoldier/pipe-news/hello-world/
http://www.cigarnightonline.com/2010/02/more-fn-taxes/
http://pipesmagazine.com/thecigarsoldier/pipe-news/ets-ths-and-tsnas/
http://www.cigarnightonline.com/2010/02/ets-ths-tsnas/
Even though I have not received a response, I am glad that I sent the letters. I will continue sending letters regards anti tobacco legislation and any others bills etc. that I disagree with. Even if they don't respond, at least I know that I let them know how I feel and where I stand on the subject.
Can anyone give me any kind of an idea about what kind of impact this will make on retail/e-tail prices? I know that the whole outcome is nebulous, and subject to both underestimation and extension, but as a new smoker without any kind of collection I feel compelled to begin stockpiling.
Say a tin sells for 8.50 today. Will it be $15 dollars after the tax increase?
My biggest concern is that, even though I've been trying to learn what I like, I'm so new that I know my tastes will develop. I dont want to stockpile stuff I dont want, but I also dont want to be in the discovery phase during the highest increase in retail price and disruption to distribution.
Say a tin sells for 8.50 today. Will it be $15 dollars after the tax increase?
My biggest concern is that, even though I've been trying to learn what I like, I'm so new that I know my tastes will develop. I dont want to stockpile stuff I dont want, but I also dont want to be in the discovery phase during the highest increase in retail price and disruption to distribution.
Who knows where prices are going? But with regard to stockpiling, someone whose tastes are still evolving has a bit of a problem hedging against the future.
One strategy would be to go to TobaccoReviews.com's search page and search for 4-star blends that have a lot of reviews. Then at least, you know that a consensus exists, and that a lot of people found a particular blend worthwhile. Read the descriptions and sort them out into broad categories like: Aromatic, English, Scottish, Balkan, American, etc.; then buy-up representative tins.
Another strategy would employ the same searching, but sort them out into tobacco varieties like: Virginia types, Burleys, Vapers, Orientals, Latakia-laced, Perique-laced, aromatics, or top-dressed. Again, try to buy representative blends.
Most brands try to cover everybody's tastes, so you can buy "one-of-each" of the offerings from Cornell & Diehl, GLPease, Hearth & Home, Two Friends, McClelland, Stokkebye, Rattray's (and dozens more!) -- but you're looking at a huge investment of capital. Fortunately tinned and jarred tobacco will stay viable for decades; and a $1000 cellar today would be worth $7000 in the purported future.
Chances are if you diversify, your evolving sense of taste will, with time, lead you through all the varieties you have purchased; and sooner or later your taste buds will "come around." Also note that the elusive "perfect-for-me" blend doesn't exist for very long anyway. Like women, no matter how sexy and hot, you'll always hanker for a little "strange", IYKWIM
Well, that's my 2¢ worth. I'm eager to hear how others would deal with the issue.
One strategy would be to go to TobaccoReviews.com's search page and search for 4-star blends that have a lot of reviews. Then at least, you know that a consensus exists, and that a lot of people found a particular blend worthwhile. Read the descriptions and sort them out into broad categories like: Aromatic, English, Scottish, Balkan, American, etc.; then buy-up representative tins.
Another strategy would employ the same searching, but sort them out into tobacco varieties like: Virginia types, Burleys, Vapers, Orientals, Latakia-laced, Perique-laced, aromatics, or top-dressed. Again, try to buy representative blends.
Most brands try to cover everybody's tastes, so you can buy "one-of-each" of the offerings from Cornell & Diehl, GLPease, Hearth & Home, Two Friends, McClelland, Stokkebye, Rattray's (and dozens more!) -- but you're looking at a huge investment of capital. Fortunately tinned and jarred tobacco will stay viable for decades; and a $1000 cellar today would be worth $7000 in the purported future.
Chances are if you diversify, your evolving sense of taste will, with time, lead you through all the varieties you have purchased; and sooner or later your taste buds will "come around." Also note that the elusive "perfect-for-me" blend doesn't exist for very long anyway. Like women, no matter how sexy and hot, you'll always hanker for a little "strange", IYKWIM
Well, that's my 2¢ worth. I'm eager to hear how others would deal with the issue.
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