New e-cigarette tax bill - join Popvox and oppose it

[rolygate]

IDEA Full Funding Act (The Saving Lives by Lowering tobacco Use Act)
S. 1403: A bill to amend part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1403

Please create an account at Popvox and OPPOSE this bill. It is a camouflaged attempt to increase the tax on safer alternatives to tobacco, including e-cigarettes, to the same as or more than cigarettes, and to increase that tax every year - inserted within a disabilities education Act amendment in order to hide it.

Please create an account - login - OPPOSE the Bill. Thank you.

--see this attached pic of the page for detail instructions--

 

[DC2]

Yes, please, everyone!!

Take a few minutes to vote your opposition to the bill, even if you don't want to add any comments.
And then please consider getting everyone who cares about you to do the same.

It is vitally important that we send them a clear message that we aren't going to sit back and let them screw us.

 

[maddcatt1]

Ok its done

 

[Thulium]

From: IDEA Funding Lowers Tobacco Use? | August 29th, 2011 | POPVOX – Blog

IDEA Funding Lowers tobacco Use?
by Marci Harris (CEO) on August 29th, 2011​

A bill now trending on POPVOX has a few people scratching their heads: S. 1403, the IDEA Full Funding Act (regarding funding for Individuals with Disabilities Education), is also being referred to as “The Saving Lives by Lowering Tobacco Use Act.” What gives?

There is a simple answer. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Tom Harkin, introduced a bill to fund the IDEA program and included a “pay-for” in the bill (a tobacco tax) in hopes of getting a revenue-neutral “score” form the Congressional Budget Office. A neutral score means the bill does not have a net cost, and may increase likelihood of passage or at least counter any potential financial objections.

It’s hard enough to get a bill passed in Congress, especially one that costs money. That has been the case for many years but even more so today. See discussions of “PAY-GO” policies throughout the years. So, if you have a good idea for a policy, you still need a pay-for. That means finding something to cut or a new source of revenue (like a tax.)

This is the main reason why the Ways and Means Committee in the House is often preceded by the adjective “powerful.” According to the Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution, all revenue measures must originate in the House of Representatives, and those revenue measures are under the jurisdiction of Ways and Means.

So, S. 1403 includes a pay-for and the bill actually IS both the IDEA Funding bill AND the Saving Lives by Lowering Tobacco Use Act.

But here’s a quiz to see if you were paying attention:

Could the bill ever pass and be enacted into law as S. 1403?

Probably not, because an “S” bill (meaning it was introduced in the Senate) that raises revenues has not “originated in the House” as proscribed by the Constitution. So, S. 1403 could be incorporated into another bill that starts in the House, or a similar bill with a House number could be sent over by the House, but S. 1403 as it stands would probably get “blue-slipped”. See more about that in a post from last year on the Food Safety bill.

 

[D103]

I signed up last week and opposed the Bill, strenuously. Also, Harkins and Grassley are the two loony senators from my state - I've contacted each of them.

 

[rothenbj]

Rolygate, info about this bill should somehow be communicated to all the sub-forums on ECF. There should be 1000s of oppositions rather than 100s.

 

[sqirl1]

S. 1403 could be incorporated into another bill that starts in the House, or a similar bill with a House number could be sent over by the House

I didn't even think about that...... .......nit..........

 

[judybr]

Put in my 2cents worth...

 

[flbutterfly1]

Opposed I'm in the first 50 voters in Florida. Hope some more Floridians oppose this. I know there are alot of down south vapers out there.

 

[slappy]

Done and done.

 

[Odell]

To hell with that bill! Another Floridian chimes in.

 

[ashamancurtis]

ok, i called my congress critters to tell them to vote against this bill.

in addition to signing this online petition, i encourage everyone to call their senators and tell them how you feel. a telephone call has much more power than an electronic petition would. so would writing them snail mail, faxing them, or going to their office (not that any of us are ina position to do this)

 

[Skwerl]

Done, and did a whole bunch more- you kinda get sucked in there at Popvox.

 

[Vocalek]

ok, i called my congress critters to tell them to vote against this bill.

in addition to signing this online petition, i encourage everyone to call their senators and tell them how you feel. a telephone call has much more power than an electronic petition would. so would writing them snail mail, faxing them, or going to their office (not that any of us are ina position to do this)

Actually, it's much more than an online petition. The application uses your zip code to look up the name of your Senators (in this case, since it is a Senate bill), and automatically addresses an email message to them that specifies your stance (for or against). It also allows the user to enter a personal message, which I used to state why I opposed the bill. This is a very handy tool for those who lack the time or inclination to send snail mail or call.

You called your congress critters, which is even more effective. I urge others to make those calls as well.

It makes no sense to set up funding for a program with a revenue stream that they actually hope will dry up. Also, since the average tobacco user makes a below-median income, this scheme takes from the poor to give to the poor. Robin Hood had a much more pragmatic approach.

 

[ncgator]

Opposed and Done!

 

[ncgator]

Done, and did a whole bunch more- you kinda get sucked in there at Popvox.

I know what you mean ...

 

[cdecee]

Opposed the bill.

 

[phatglass]

done....opposed

 

[isoplus]

Done!!!
Telling friends to join in.

 

[yeagercody]

opposed..done