Nebraska Call to Action -- LB439 would increase smokeless tobacco taxes by 55% (hearing Wednesday, March 13th!)

[Placebo Effect]

This CTA has been on the CASAA site for over a week, but I forgot to post it here --
CASAA: Call to Action! Nebraska Smokeless Tobacco Tax Increase -- LB439


Nebraska: 55% Increase in Smokeless tobacco Tax (LB439)

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[full text of LB439]
[legislative tracking for LB439]

If enacted, this bill would:
Increase Nebraska's tax on smokeless tobacco products from 20% to 31% of purchase price.

Please note that this bill would *not* tax e-cigarettes.

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LB439 has been referred to the Nebraska Legislature's Revenue Committee. The Revenue Committee will hold a hearing on the bill on Wednesday, March 13th at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in Room 1524 of the Nebraska Legislature, which is located at 1445 K St in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Public testimony will be allowed from attendees wishing to speak. We strongly encourage advocates to attend and testify in opposition to the tax increase on smokeless tobacco. If you are planning to testify, please contact us at [email]board@casaa.org[/email].

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Please call, write or fax the members of the Revenue Committee below.

1. Let them know that you oppose LB439 because it would impose an unnecessary and punitive tax increase on smokeless tobacco products.

2. Tell your story on how switching from cigarettes to a far less hazardous smoke-free tobacco product has changed your life.

3. Explain that the purpose of increasing cigarette tax rates was to reimburse state expenditures for treating the many diseases caused by cigarette smoking. Because smokeless tobacco products have been found to be around 99% less harmful than cigarettes, there is no justification for such an outrageously excessive tax, which would discourage smokers from switching to a less harmful alternative.

4. Sharply increasing the smokeless tobacco tax rate also will encourage former smokers who had switched to using smokeless tobacco products to return to smoking.

5. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.

6. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.

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Nebraska Legislature Revenue Committee Members:

Sen. Galen Hadley, Chairperson
Room #1116
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2726
ghadley@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Thomas Hansen
Room #1012
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2729
thansen@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Burke Harr
Room #1120
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2722
bharr@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Charlie Janssen
Room #1403
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2625
cjanssen@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Beau McCoy
Room #2015
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2885
bmccoy@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Pete Pirsch
Room #1101
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2621
ppirsch@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Paul Schumacher
Room #1124
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2715
pschumacher@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Kate Sullivan
Room #1107
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2631
ksullivan@leg.ne.gov


Comma delimited e-mail list:
ghadley@leg.ne.gov, thansen@leg.ne.gov, bharr@leg.ne.gov, cjanssen@leg.ne.gov, bmccoy@leg.ne.gov, ppirsch@leg.ne.gov, pschumacher@leg.ne.gov, ksullivan@leg.ne.gov

 

[Jakersvape]

I emailed all of the senators last weekend. I never got any replies, I thought I would at least get some kind of auto response from them. I've been trying to find out how the hearing went, but so far haven't found anything.

 

[hawkizefan]

i emailed all of the senators last weekend. I never got any replies, i thought i would at least get some kind of auto response from them. I've been trying to find out how the hearing went, but so far haven't found anything.

harumph....

 

[Placebo Effect]

I don't believe a vote was taken. Can you Nebraska folks call the office of Sen. Galen Hadley (Chairman of the committee) on Monday and ask for an update?

 

[Petrodus]

I emailed all of the senators last weekend. I never got any replies, I thought I would at least get some kind of auto response from them. I've been trying to find out how the hearing went, but so far haven't found anything.

"Auto-Ignore"

 

[Jakersvape]

I don't believe a vote was taken. Can you Nebraska folks call the office of Sen. Galen Hadley (Chairman of the committee) on Monday and ask for an update?

I'll try to give Sen. Hadley a call today and find out.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Nebraska tobacco tax hike legislation (LB 439) rejected by Revenue Committee
Cigarette tax hike one of two proposals voted down - Omaha.com

Don't know the impact of calls/letters against increasing Gloor's proposed smokeless tobacco tax (as they were greatly outnumbered by those opposing a cigarette tax hike), but thanks to everyone who contacted committee members.

 

[Jakersvape]

Thanks for posting that Bill. Doesn't sound like they are giving up on it though. We'll be ready for another round with them if they try to propose a similar bill!

 

[Bill Godshall]

To save face, the bill's sponsor (Sen. Gloor) claimed he'll keep pushing the measure this legislative session, which ends in several weeks.

But since his bill was defeated in the Revenue Committee, the chances of Gloor successfully amending his tobacco tax hike to another bill are between very slim and nonexistant.

 

[Jakersvape]

To save face, the bill's sponsor (Sen. Gloor) claimed he'll keep pushing the measure this legislative session, which ends in several weeks.

But since his bill was defeated in the Revenue Committee, the chances of Gloor successfully amending his tobacco tax hike to another bill are between very slim and nonexistant.

That makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up for me Bill!