Senator Frank R. Lautenberg: following the money

[Taxidermist]

Well, let's say they do tax nicotine juice. Seems like e-liquid at 0 nic would be excluded.....as would PVs....right?

The government can ban controlled substanses from coming across the Mexican boarder let's say...but what if it were brought in in a Chevy? Could they ban Chevys too? What about the gas used to move the Chevy? etc. etc.

My point is PV's and 0 nicotine e-liquid should not even be in the discussion. The ONLY discussion (if any) should be the nicotine.

 

[orville99]

It's good to know that CASAA exists. It's a step in the right direction. It's unfortunate that they chose to apply for exemption as a 501(c)4 (Social Welfare) rather than a 501(c)6 (Business League/Trade Association), since c6's have much broader latitude to influence legislation, develop standards, and promote best business practices, while c4's are severely restricted in the types of activities they may engage in.

 

[wearemany]

It's a stretch to link Lautenberg the champion of Anti-smoking campaigns to be the agent of Big Tobacco, especially considering the paltry sums he has received in contributions.

I agree that correlation does not equal cause. Still, I believe it's hypocritical for Lautenberg to paint himself as an anti-smoking crusader when his second largest contributor is a tobacco company.

 

[librarising]

I agree that correlation does not equal cause. Still, I believe it's hypocritical for Lautenberg to paint himself as an anti-smoking crusader when his second largest contributor is a tobacco company.

I just took a "walk" over to OpenSecrets.org, which is a clearing house for all political contributions. You are mistaken about his highest contributors. His 2nd highest contributor over the last several years has been Cantor Fitzgerald, which is a large NY law firm. None of the top five contributors nor industries on his list are attached to the tobacco industry. Here is a link Frank R. Lautenberg: Campaign Finance/Money - Summary - Senator 2010 | OpenSecrets
Top 5 industries
Lawyers/Law Firms $897,632 $772,453 $125,179
Real Estate $746,990 $731,990 $15,000
Securities & Investment $628,383 $609,383 $19,000
Democratic/Liberal $353,625 $345,625 $8,000
Retired $264,283 $264,283 cycle=2010

 

[t9c]

As the OP said, Vector Group owns Real Estate & Liggett, so there's your tobacco co.

 

[wearemany]

None of the top five contributors nor industries on his list are attached to the tobacco industry.

If you'll refer to my OP, I said I was looking at the combined contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee.

By default, opensecrets shows only the campaign committee contributions. The combined contributions make Vector Group number 2.

 

[librarising]

If you'll refer to my OP, I said I was looking at the combined contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee.

By default, opensecrets shows only the campaign committee contributions. The combined contributions make Vector Group number 2.

Do you have a link to that? Thanks.

 

[wearemany]

I don't think I can post links yet, but if you go to the link you provided you will see three buttons below Lautenberg's name. The first one is automatically highlighted and and is for campaign committee contributions. The third button shows the combined contributions.

 

[voltaire]

It's good to know that CASAA exists. It's a step in the right direction. It's unfortunate that they chose to apply for exemption as a 501(c)4 (Social Welfare) rather than a 501(c)6 (Business League/Trade Association), since c6's have much broader latitude to influence legislation, develop standards, and promote best business practices, while c4's are severely restricted in the types of activities they may engage in.

Well, that's because CASAA is a CONSUMER based group and is not exclusive to Ecigs. There are other groups such as NVC (and the seemingly defunct ECA) that are going more towards the Business/Trade Association route.

FDA acts against 5 electronic cigarette distributors This is from TODAY!!!

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ned=us&ncl=dzv3hVVBjxDy7dMzQlX2lYMDRDBTM

 

[librarising]

I don't think I can post links yet, but if you go to the link you provided you will see three buttons below Lautenberg's name. The first one is automatically highlighted and and is for campaign committee contributions. The third button shows the combined contributions.

Ok, I found it. It was the highest for that combined category at $62,000 but he has contributions of close to $10 million dollars. As another poster said, those contributions aren't very much. I'm not saying that he isn't helping the tobacco industry along but there are lots of others too.

On edit...ecigarettes are revolutionary in their own way. Use of them affects tax revenues, tobacco industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the health "care" industry. Imagine all the money that wouldn't need to be dispersed in regard to cancer, heart disease etc. That would put many people out of work and the pockets of the execs of those companies would become emptier and emptier.

 

[Valsacar]

Korea has made them legal and categorized them as a "mild cigarette" subject to all of the same restrictions and taxes... pretty sure there are some extra taxes in there too, 20ml of juice costs 30~35USD and an atty is almost 40USD...

 

[orville99]

Well, that's because CASAA is a CONSUMER based group and is not exclusive to Ecigs. There are other groups such as NVC (and the seemingly defunct ECA) that are going more towards the Business/Trade Association route.

FDA acts against 5 electronic cigarette distributors This is from TODAY!!!

FDA cracks down on 5 makers of e-ciga... - Google News

The genesis of the organization is not the determining factor, the mission and purpose are. As a c4 the organization serves a vital purpose, it's just that it is prohibited by law from taking any political action. A c6, on the other hand has a much broader reach. There is nothing in the code that prevents a consumer based organization from going the c6 route.

Also, the action taken by the FDA is entirely consistent with their regulatory authority under the food, drug and cosmetic act. We may all not like it, but it is not a predatory action. What they articulate in their complaint is exactly what a well structured association needs to deal with.