I had a 30 - 40 minute phone conversation with US Senator Isakson's (GA) Legislative Assistant for the the HELP Committee on the letter I sent the Senator on Senator Harkin's committee hearing on the FDA's Deeming Regulations. I had not received a reply to my letter in almost a week, so I called the DC office, found out who the LA was and left him a message expressing my disappointment. He called me back personally. I asked if I could share the "gist" of our conversation with other vapers and he said that would be fine. I think this conversation bares significance to Jman's thread on Congress being able to stop the Deeming Regulations. Here is the thread with the letter I sent Senator Isakson (post #172):
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ommittee-thursday-2-30pm-18.html#post13158902
Here is the summary of our conversation. Nothing earth shattering (which I would not have expected) but I think still enlightening:
1. The Senator is not in favor of the FDA taking any action relative to electronic cigarettes. He believes they are not effectively handling their major responsibilities as it is and that electronic cigarettes are not an area they should be interfering with.
2. He is aware of and concerned about the effect of the Deeming Regulations on small vaping businesses in Georgia. I played up this angle and pointed out just how many new vaping businesses have started in Georgia in the last year employing typically 5 - 15 people each. He stated that two months ago a small vaping business owner visited the Senator in Washington to voice his concerns about regulation.
3. That Senators Alexander especially, as well as Senator Burr, are taking the "lead" from a Republican standpoint on the HELP committee on the regulation of electronic cigarettes. My sense was that Senator Isakson is depending on Senators Alexander and Burr to keep him up to date on this issue. But I really don't know how this all works.
4. I reiterated the point I made in my letter that these Senators need to reach out to CASAA, Bill Godshall and Dr Siegel as a counter-weight to Zeller and McAfee. I also reminded him to look at the study links I referenced in my letter.
5. I brought up the recent study out of the UK in the Addiction publication on the effectiveness of vaping as a means to stop smoking. A real positive after telling him this, is that he stated that he knew it worked because several of his personal friends were able to stop smoking by switching to vaping. This type of first hand personal experience by those in powerful positions in the government can be one of our best allies. He did warn that cessation claims could lead to a taxation issue. I didn't pursue this statement although it did not make sense to me as I don't believe there are additional taxes on other cessation products.
6. He made a specific point that if the mid-term elections result in a change in the leadership of the Senate, then our concerns would basically disappear. He made this point more than once. I believe Bill Godshall has been making the same point. This change alone could push back any possible regulation for years and allow the vaping community to grow larger and stronger.
Based on this conversation, I plan to send Senator's Alexander and Burr a copy of my letter to Senator Isakson. The LA was not sure how much attention will be paid to letters from citizens outside their state. My thinking is that if they get enough letters, then they can report back to other senators that this is a nationwide concern. I believe we need to emphasize the economic impact these regulations will have in destroying small business and costing jobs. And we all need to be talking with our local and online vendors so they understand the gun to their heads.
I also strongly believe that no matter your personal political persuasion, that for this particular mid-term election, it would almost assuredly benefit the vaping community if the control of the Senate changed hands.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ommittee-thursday-2-30pm-18.html#post13158902
Here is the summary of our conversation. Nothing earth shattering (which I would not have expected) but I think still enlightening:
1. The Senator is not in favor of the FDA taking any action relative to electronic cigarettes. He believes they are not effectively handling their major responsibilities as it is and that electronic cigarettes are not an area they should be interfering with.
2. He is aware of and concerned about the effect of the Deeming Regulations on small vaping businesses in Georgia. I played up this angle and pointed out just how many new vaping businesses have started in Georgia in the last year employing typically 5 - 15 people each. He stated that two months ago a small vaping business owner visited the Senator in Washington to voice his concerns about regulation.
3. That Senators Alexander especially, as well as Senator Burr, are taking the "lead" from a Republican standpoint on the HELP committee on the regulation of electronic cigarettes. My sense was that Senator Isakson is depending on Senators Alexander and Burr to keep him up to date on this issue. But I really don't know how this all works.
4. I reiterated the point I made in my letter that these Senators need to reach out to CASAA, Bill Godshall and Dr Siegel as a counter-weight to Zeller and McAfee. I also reminded him to look at the study links I referenced in my letter.
5. I brought up the recent study out of the UK in the Addiction publication on the effectiveness of vaping as a means to stop smoking. A real positive after telling him this, is that he stated that he knew it worked because several of his personal friends were able to stop smoking by switching to vaping. This type of first hand personal experience by those in powerful positions in the government can be one of our best allies. He did warn that cessation claims could lead to a taxation issue. I didn't pursue this statement although it did not make sense to me as I don't believe there are additional taxes on other cessation products.
6. He made a specific point that if the mid-term elections result in a change in the leadership of the Senate, then our concerns would basically disappear. He made this point more than once. I believe Bill Godshall has been making the same point. This change alone could push back any possible regulation for years and allow the vaping community to grow larger and stronger.
Based on this conversation, I plan to send Senator's Alexander and Burr a copy of my letter to Senator Isakson. The LA was not sure how much attention will be paid to letters from citizens outside their state. My thinking is that if they get enough letters, then they can report back to other senators that this is a nationwide concern. I believe we need to emphasize the economic impact these regulations will have in destroying small business and costing jobs. And we all need to be talking with our local and online vendors so they understand the gun to their heads.
I also strongly believe that no matter your personal political persuasion, that for this particular mid-term election, it would almost assuredly benefit the vaping community if the control of the Senate changed hands.
Last edited:
