Indiana Call to Action: Multiple Indiana bills would threaten access to and use of e-cigarettes.
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I just caught the last few speakers. Does anyone know if these are archived and available to watch?
It's isn't in the archive yet. There is one video in the Commerce and Technology section from January 15 so it looks like they do archive.
Looks like it will go on to a second reading but several commitee members made it clear there needed to be some changes and investigation if it would run against against federal interstate commerce regs. So it's still alive.
My observations from the committee hearing on SB 539.
Great turnout! Hearing room was over-flowed with a least 100 others in the hallway.
Most of the Senators were engaged with the speakers and asked prudent questions. It was obvious that a couple of them had no real interest in what was being said by the speakers.
Speaking in support of the bill were a couple of grocery trade representatives whose purpose for being there was an attempt to have the legislature mandate that only a few current grocery wholesaler's have a monopoly on all vaping products imported into Indiana. A obviously self-serving ploy.
The most forceful speaker against the bill was Gregory Conley from The American vaping Association. He made many excellent points as to why the bill should not be enacted.
His comment on how big tobacco products were specifically exempted from the bill brought a coy smile from 3 of the Senators, with one attempting to defend big tobacco only to be shot down by Greg.
The representative from NJoy made a very clear case as to what problems the bill had in its current form.
Shadi Khoury also spoke against the bill to good effect, making several excellent points.
An e-liquid maker who has only been in business for a few months spoke eloquently as to how this bill would put him out of business and cost his life savings. I apologize but due to the sound quality in the hearing room, I could not get this speakers name.
All in all, I believe that the majority of the Senators believe that the bill in its current form will not pass. I think "we" have a good chance of seeing the following changes to the bill:
The license fee of $5000 will be lowered. Hopefully very significantly.
The security and surveillance rules mandated by the bill will be eliminated or reduced to a manageable and reasonable mandate.
Requiring out of state manufacturers to have an Indiana permit will be eliminated.
This was only the first reading of the bill. Sometime in the next few weeks will be a second reading, hopefully with all of the changes we want.
Please continue to telephone and write your local state representatives and express your rejection of the bills in their current form.
Thank you to all that supported and/or attended this first hearing!
Great turnout! Hearing room was over-flowed with a least 100 others in the hallway.
Most of the Senators were engaged with the speakers and asked prudent questions. It was obvious that a couple of them had no real interest in what was being said by the speakers.
Speaking in support of the bill were a couple of grocery trade representatives whose purpose for being there was an attempt to have the legislature mandate that only a few current grocery wholesaler's have a monopoly on all vaping products imported into Indiana. A obviously self-serving ploy.
The most forceful speaker against the bill was Gregory Conley from The American vaping Association. He made many excellent points as to why the bill should not be enacted.
His comment on how big tobacco products were specifically exempted from the bill brought a coy smile from 3 of the Senators, with one attempting to defend big tobacco only to be shot down by Greg.
The representative from NJoy made a very clear case as to what problems the bill had in its current form.
Shadi Khoury also spoke against the bill to good effect, making several excellent points.
An e-liquid maker who has only been in business for a few months spoke eloquently as to how this bill would put him out of business and cost his life savings. I apologize but due to the sound quality in the hearing room, I could not get this speakers name.
All in all, I believe that the majority of the Senators believe that the bill in its current form will not pass. I think "we" have a good chance of seeing the following changes to the bill:
The license fee of $5000 will be lowered. Hopefully very significantly.
The security and surveillance rules mandated by the bill will be eliminated or reduced to a manageable and reasonable mandate.
Requiring out of state manufacturers to have an Indiana permit will be eliminated.
This was only the first reading of the bill. Sometime in the next few weeks will be a second reading, hopefully with all of the changes we want.
Please continue to telephone and write your local state representatives and express your rejection of the bills in their current form.
Thank you to all that supported and/or attended this first hearing!
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I didn't here the entire Hearing.
But what I came away with was a Sense that the Committee Members seemed receptive to talking about Amending the Bill. And they seemed Relieved that the Speakers that there were Not Opposed to many Fundamental issues like Age Limits or CRP.
I also think that some of the Committee Members seemed a Tad Embarrassed when things Like Armed Guards were mentioned.
I also Liked that the Tone of the Hearing didn't seem to be Argumentative or Combative.
But what I came away with was a Sense that the Committee Members seemed receptive to talking about Amending the Bill. And they seemed Relieved that the Speakers that there were Not Opposed to many Fundamental issues like Age Limits or CRP.
I also think that some of the Committee Members seemed a Tad Embarrassed when things Like Armed Guards were mentioned.
I also Liked that the Tone of the Hearing didn't seem to be Argumentative or Combative.
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Although I missed the beginning and end of the video I have to agree with your assessment Goldbug, the chair members we're very receptive and interested in hearing both sides and seemed to agree that the bill as written goes beyond what's reasonable. One chair women went so far as to call the $5000 permit fee grievious. And the NJoy spokeman, wow did he seem to get really upset. I hadn't realized this bill would also block NJoy from selling liquid in Indiana as well, I assumed they had they're own facilities. All in all I'm very pleased with everything I saw.
I think that they Know that this piece of Legislation is Completely Over the Top. And Doesn't achieve what they want to Address.
But let's wait and see where the Bill goes Next. And if that "Open Dialog" an ability to "Get the Interested Parties together and sit down to Discuss this" does occur.
At least my rep voted NO. Tomes, I will write and thank him for that.
Good turn out, Great job for all those who turned out!
I was glad to see the Njoy rep, he made some good points. Love 'em or hate 'em, Njoy has been in this fight all along.
I saw several good speakers. I hope I can watch the full video.
I think they just write bills for the max gain, on the off chance that nobody fights it.
They leave plenty of room for trimming, and we will be happy with the end result compared to the initial presentation.
If you all hadn't been there, it would have been rubber stamped and on it's way!!
Good turn out, Great job for all those who turned out!
I was glad to see the Njoy rep, he made some good points. Love 'em or hate 'em, Njoy has been in this fight all along.
I saw several good speakers. I hope I can watch the full video.
I think they just write bills for the max gain, on the off chance that nobody fights it.
They leave plenty of room for trimming, and we will be happy with the end result compared to the initial presentation.
If you all hadn't been there, it would have been rubber stamped and on it's way!!
It was great! We knocked this off the fast-track which is the important part.
The fight continues and we have an advantage because of the Hoosier Vapers that turned out and made it clear that we are willing to fight.
Great job everyone! I'm so proud of everyone I broke 2 buttons...
The fight continues and we have an advantage because of the Hoosier Vapers that turned out and made it clear that we are willing to fight.
Great job everyone! I'm so proud of everyone I broke 2 buttons...
Here is about an hour of the hearing that I didn't see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFsLWzoIrPY&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFsLWzoIrPY&feature=youtu.be
As an FYI:
Vape shops all around the state have petitions and letters to sign. The petitions are for the media to see and the letters are going to be hand delivered to the appropriate committee / hearing. Imagine the impact dollies filled with signed letters will have on these proceedings...
Shops are also holding fundraisers to fund the fight.
So please be sure to visit your local vape shop and pitch in! We can win if we all pull together!
Internet petitions are fine, but don't have the same impact as paper with real signatures on them. So even if you've been emailing and signing digital petitions, please visit a shop and sign some paper!
The eyes of the country are upon us...let's show them that Vapers in Indiana won't be pushed around by ignorant lawmakers!
Vape shops all around the state have petitions and letters to sign. The petitions are for the media to see and the letters are going to be hand delivered to the appropriate committee / hearing. Imagine the impact dollies filled with signed letters will have on these proceedings...
Shops are also holding fundraisers to fund the fight.
So please be sure to visit your local vape shop and pitch in! We can win if we all pull together!
Internet petitions are fine, but don't have the same impact as paper with real signatures on them. So even if you've been emailing and signing digital petitions, please visit a shop and sign some paper!
The eyes of the country are upon us...let's show them that Vapers in Indiana won't be pushed around by ignorant lawmakers!
I'll stop in my local shops and see if they are doing anything? If they are not, I may not fight their fight.
** URGENT CALL TO ACTION **
SB 539 is getting its 2nd Reading in the Senate tomorrow, Thursday 2/5/15!!!
Start calling the switchboard (317-232-9400) and ask that your Senator be informed that you oppose SB 539 in its current form and ask that they support the bill going to a study session so that small businesses can have a part in this discussion. It only takes 5 minutes to #SaveTheVape!
Switchboard opens at 8:00 AM. Find your senator at THIS link if you do not know who it is yet.
SB 539 is getting its 2nd Reading in the Senate tomorrow, Thursday 2/5/15!!!
Start calling the switchboard (317-232-9400) and ask that your Senator be informed that you oppose SB 539 in its current form and ask that they support the bill going to a study session so that small businesses can have a part in this discussion. It only takes 5 minutes to #SaveTheVape!
Switchboard opens at 8:00 AM. Find your senator at THIS link if you do not know who it is yet.
Yep, the 2 week period between the first and second, that was the proscribed period from the committee, seems to have been divided in half.
Of the dirty tricks we have encountered during this fight, this is the least of it.....the very least.
Seriously folks, I knew there was corruption, but the depths these folks sink to...I don't know how they ever feel clean or sleep at night.
Of the dirty tricks we have encountered during this fight, this is the least of it.....the very least.
Seriously folks, I knew there was corruption, but the depths these folks sink to...I don't know how they ever feel clean or sleep at night.
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