RI Gov. Chafee claims e-cigs aren't "vapor products", says its counterproductive to ban e-cig sales to minors if they're NOT taxed, licensed and more

[Bill Godshall]

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chaffee's following letter attempts to defend his recent veto of legislation (that would have banned the sale of "vapor products" to minors) by falsely claiming that e-cigarettes aren't "vapor products" (and as such were exempt from the legislation), and absurdly claiming that it is "counterproductive" to ban e-cig sales to minors if the products aren't also taxed, licensed and heavily regulated.

Wonder if Chaffee and the talking heads at CTFK, ACS, AHA, ALA similarly oppose laws that ban the sale of corporate stock, cars, guns, porn, ........., etc. to minors of various ages (unless those products are also taxed, licensed and more heavily regulated).

The good news is that Chaffee recently announced he won't seek reelection.


From: Governor Chafee [mailto:governor@governor.ri.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 12:01 PM
To:
Subject: E-Cigarette Legislation



Dear Friend,

In the recent legislative session, I supported and welcomed the opportunity to sign into law pieces of legislation that align with my priorities of making investments in education, infrastructure, and workforce development. In addition, I have supported bills that address issues affecting the middle class, students, people with disabilities, and our veterans. These measures are essential steps on Rhode Island's road to economic recovery. However, there are some bills that came to my desk this session that I chose to veto.

I would like to thank you for contacting me with your concerns about one piece of legislation in particular. Many Rhode Islanders voiced their strong convictions against House Bill 5876 and Senate Bill 0622, an act relating to electronic cigarettes.

This bill would have criminalized the possession, use, or purchase of electronic cigarettes by children as well as the sale and delivery of electronic cigarettes to children. The bill defined electronic cigarettes as "vapor products," which would have exempted electronic cigarettes from laws regarding the illegal sale of tobacco products to children. Finally, the bill would have failed to impose state licensing requirements and sales tax collection on electronic cigarette vendors.

While I believe the sale of electronic cigarettes to children should be prohibited, it is counterproductive to do so while simultaneously exempting electronic cigarettes from laws concerning regulation, enforcement, licensing, or taxation.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Lincoln D. Chafee
Governor

 

[AgentAnia]

The good news is that Chaffee recently announced he won't seek reelection.

The silver lining?

 

[Uma]

Speechless but not shocked.

 

[JerryRM]

Yes, the silver lining. Chafee is not going to seek re-election. He barely won the last election, with 1/3 of the vote, in a 3 way race. His father, John Chafee, was a great man, Lincoln Chafee, is not John Chafee. Not by a long shot.

 

[Valhalla17]

Politicians are nothing short of painful when they talk. It cracks me up when they do the right things for the wrong reasons.

 

[Uma]

"This bill would have criminalized the possession, use, or purchase of electronic cigarettes by children as well as the sale and delivery of electronic cigarettes to children." Is this part for real?

Ok, I read their state law bill where the revision, to just include eCigs, would have put the same law they already have for smokes into effect. By golLy, I think I'm catching up.

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText13/HouseText13/H5876A.pdf

 

[cookiebun]

What a colossal twit.