The end of the Provari??? 95% WA state tax!

[MorpheusPA]

Perhaps he is better informed on the issue than I am. However, he couldn't have been ANY MORE obvious (not could you) about your political leanings....and whenever you are so obvious , it makes me question your motives.

Precisely, thank you, and far better said than I could have done!

Furthermore, it means that I would be disinclined to join the organization. I may agree on this issue, but disagree on so many others that I can't possibly ignore it. Equally valid, I wonder how they'll justify it when the other side does the same thing--because they'll be far less inclined to cry, "Vote them out."

Trying to demonize a political party by using an issue such as this is elementary, and just plain rude.

Once again this is better said than I could, which I'm sure is Obama's fault somehow...

 

[03FXDWG]

I signed the petition. It kept throwing errors last night when I tried.

What is the deal with paying money to show it to more supporters? That definitely doesn't make the donkeys look good? WTH? Now we have to pay to get our voices heard? I need to start checking out democratic republics in Central America again. I hope the Mennonites in Belize allow vaping.

 

[LDS714]

Not true
The "nut job" here in Utah is most defenetly RIGHT WING

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Defeat-Paul-Ray-Political-Action-Page/363186063796455

They're all pigs with lipstick on. They've just figured out how to make the populace more passionate about fighting over the shade of the lipstick than their own rights.

Wake up folks, keep your eye on the ball.

It doesn't matter what party they're affiliated with, they'll say what they need to say to get and stay elected and then do the same exact things irrespective of their promises, platforms or platitudes. They all want your money and your subservience. The only difference is the spin on the classic "the other guy sucks more."

The sooner people realize that, the sooner the people will regain a little bit of the that was power intended to be theirs.

 

[cbrite]

Exactly.

It is sad that this thread was used, from its inception, to attack a specific political party. Very sad indeed.

It was even more sad when I pointed this out, only to have someone reply to me and basically call me ignorant, since I pointed this out.

Please, for the love of god people, focus on the ISSUE, not bipartisan politics.

Neither political party is going to put any amount of effort into protecting the rights of vapers...you can mark my words on that. NEITHER political party is going to help us. They never have, and never will, especially not on an issue so insignificant to them. Both parties serve their own agendas....and I guarantee you, big tobacco is in BOTH of their pockets....so whatever big tobacco wants, you will see it seep through via both parties.
It is up to US to protect our OWN rights....both as citizens, and as vapers. We must rely on OURSELVES.

Exactly. And don't forget Big Pharma. They have their hand in everyone's pockets too. Does anyone remember when you had to have a prescription for Nicorette gum and patches? Isn't it odd that now it's an OTC thing. Guess when the patent ran out and the huge profits dwindled down, everyone got the opportunity to make big bucks off from the folks wanting to stop smoking. So now you can buy gum/patches anywhere. Once they tax the crap out of e-cigs and get rid of the vendors of those and juices, it will happen the same way. First some company will patent something and you will have to get a prescrip and pay out the whazzoo and then after they "sucker everyone in" you will be buying at your local grocery at a huge markup from the $$ we pay now. Watch and see.

 

[Bramble]

They're all pigs with lipstick on. They've just figured out how to make more passionate about fighting over the shade lipstick than their own rights.

Wake up folks, keep your eye on the ball.

It doesn't matter what party they're affiliated with, they'll say what they need to say to get and stay elected and then do the same exact things irrespective of their promises, platforms or platitudes. They all want your money and your subservience. The only difference is the spin on the classic "the other guy sucks more."

The sooner people realize that, the sooner the people will regain a little bit of the that was power intended to be theirs.

I think they all get together for beers and laugh about the great show they put on as a diversion and a way to keep the public polarized. It's called wagging the dog.

 

[Coelli]

I signed the petition. It kept throwing errors last night when I tried.

What is the deal with paying money to show it to more supporters? That definitely doesn't make the donkeys look good? WTH? Now we have to pay to get our voices heard? I need to start checking out democratic republics in Central America again. I hope the Mennonites in Belize allow vaping.

That's just the way change.org works. You don't HAVE to pay - I've seen petitions get in the 100,000's and doubt anyone paid. But change.org has to have some sort of business model.

 

[DC2]

Sums it up for me too. I think we can agree that ON THIS ISSUE we are united, so let's please keep to how we can work together to fight this. No one's going to jump party lines over this single issue, I'd like to think we all have our reasons for voting the way we do. I doubt that many of us are single issue voters.

As for alienating liberals, the liberals are really the only ones who can pressure legislators to change on this issue. They do not care about someone they know is never going to vote for them anyway. But the more I get called names for voting the way I do, the less I want to have any sort of discourse on it even when the issue is something we can both agree on.

As a staunch anti-Democrat, I still endorse this post.

 

[retired1]

Attempts to point fingers and turn these discussions into a political blame game is getting very, very old. Knock it off.

 

[Jjshbetz11]

Bump for this good cause

 

[StormFinch]

Plain and simple; This has NOTHING to do with Party Lines!!!

It's MONEY, and ONLY money. The states ALL have a horse in this race and it goes by the name of MSA, aka the Master Settlement Agreement or the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which means this could possibly happen in every state of the union, especially if the state has already optioned off their MSA payments. This should be required reading for anyone wondering why states like Washington and New Jersey could possibly want us to go back to smoking: Why e Cigarettes Must Be Declared Tobacco Products

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

Posted the link to busardos, trippers, and greens newest vids

I'm interested in their replies to you when and if they come(hopeful they will) The big name folks on You Tube can reach a heck of a lot of people very rapidly, Flash mob rapidly if needed. One of my big fears is some type of Sneaky midnight legislation getting pushed through under the cover of darkness somewhere with as little public notice as is legally possible...

​

​

Folks like Busardo, Grimm, Twisted, Rip, vapinGreek and many, many, more could serve as Sentinels to the cause and could reach out and touch +100,000 vapers in a single Upload... I realize that getting involved in and commenting on Politics and Voting can potentially lose subscribers but Lives will be lost if these punitive laws & business crushing Tax hikes are allowed to become laws and that's a fact...People are going to Die because of this blatant Greed and we need a system in place to reach as many supporters as possible as rapidly as possible. I sure hope the You-Tube Heavyweights offer to help....Anyone who's heard anything please let us know...-Dave

 

[HawaiiVPR]

I wondering how many of you have passed this on to non smokers/non vapers? I believe written testimony from these groups will carry forward additional weight once your legislators realize the numbers go beyond only people who vape.

Got a few people to submit some brief testimony here explaining how the smoking area fronting their office lobby is now mostly vapers, how much cleaner the area is now that the ashtrays are hardly overflowing with cig butts, not to mention the smell every time they walk past to go inside the building.

Maybe if your state allows smoking in bars or restaurants, perhaps ask the workers/owners if they prefer vapers over smokers, maybe they could submit some testimony about how working in that environment is.

 

[brickfollett]

Please explain why/how you can understand a 20% tax. Why this number? Why at all? Why "discourage" their use? What am I missing here?

I don't support any sort of tax on e cigs at all. But I would be a whole lot less upset if it were a 20% tax to increase revenue etc. I still would be upset. The reasons for the tax are not my reasons, they are the reasons that are being given by legislature. I'm explaining it to those in charge from their point of view

 

[brickfollett]

Lol I'm just messing around, I just like to get a rise out of people.

IMO I think it's amusing to watch people argue their point until you understand it, no matter how pointless the topic.

Like with my girlfriend, Even if I KNOW SHE IS RIGHT, I will argue that she is wrong, to see how far she will go into proving that she is infact right.

When If I knew I was right and someone argued that I was wrong I would just say, "Alright you’re irrational, there is no point in me arguing with you" and walk away Lol

So no hard feelings?

Sounds like you may be lacking a girlfriend in the near future =]

 

[cbrite]

Attempts to point fingers and turn these discussions into a political blame game is getting very, very old. Knock it off.

Need a love button for this! Thanks, retired1.

 

[brickfollett]

From the OP:

My official intent for this thread is a call to action, to DO something about this. Doing something means signing petitions, attending rallies, sharing information and contacting people who have the ability to reach more people than we can. I got a reply from Indoorsmokers (check out the youtube channel) This was his reply to my request for sharing information found in this thread

Indoorsmokers: OK Man I will make it the subject of my Topic Tuesday Video, and will add links to all the relevant places including the phone numbers for state representatives and Senators.

Heck yeah Indoorsmokers!

This is the reply I got from Grimmgreen. Appears he has already taken some action. Hopefully we'll see something in the form of a video on his site:

Grimmgreen: yup, it's a bummer for sure. I've mentioned this in a few videos now, as well as multiple posts on GrimmGreen.com

http://www.grimmgreen.com/post/77396116531/95-sin-tax-on-vaping

http://www.grimmgreen.com/post/79271272254/vapers-rally-in-wa-state

--Nick
----------------

I received word from another of my district representatives.

Shelly Short:
Dear Bryce,

Thank you for your email regarding HB 2795. I am opposed to this bill and will vote NO.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your comments. If you want more information on what’s happening in Olympia sign up for my E-Newsletter by clicking here.

Cordially,

Shelly Short
State Representative
7th District
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, Washington 98504-0600

(360) 786-7908
-------------------------------------
Tune in to indoorsmokers youtube Channel today, 3/11/2014 and lets see what he has to say about our thread and what information he shares. He is a hero in my book. He has tons of subscribers. many people will be that much more aware. I'm still awaiting replies from pbusardo and riptrippers
-------------

What I want is for you guys to DO something, not sit around and complain about politics and parties. If a person goes against my core beliefs, being the protection of vaping and other factors, I'll not be voting for them. I don't care what party they represent. I do know that my vote counts and so does yours. My voice counts and so do yours. Motivate others to save our right to vape. That's all I'm asking. Please stay on the topic of this thread, I don't want people arguing over irrelevant issues that are not going to further our cause

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

[/COLOR]

From the OP:

My official intent for this thread is a call to action, to DO something about this. Doing something means signing petitions, attending rallies, sharing information and contacting people who have the ability to reach more people than we can. I got a reply from Indoorsmokers (check out the youtube channel) This was his reply to my request for sharing information found in this thread

Indoorsmokers: OK Man I will make it the subject of my Topic Tuesday Video, and will add links to all the relevant places including the phone numbers for state representatives and Senators.

Heck yeah Indoorsmokers!

This is the reply I got from Grimmgreen. Appears he has already taken some action. Hopefully we'll see something in the form of a video on his site:

Grimmgreen: yup, it's a bummer for sure. I've mentioned this in a few videos now, as well as multiple posts on GrimmGreen.com

http://www.grimmgreen.com/post/77396116531/95-sin-tax-on-vaping

http://www.grimmgreen.com/post/79271272254/vapers-rally-in-wa-state

--Nick
----------------

I received word from another of my district representatives.

Shelly Short:
Dear Bryce,

Thank you for your email regarding HB 2795. I am opposed to this bill and will vote NO.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your comments. If you want more information on what’s happening in Olympia sign up for my E-Newsletter by clicking here.

Cordially,

Shelly Short
State Representative
7th District
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, Washington 98504-0600

(360) 786-7908
-------------------------------------
Tune in to indoorsmokers youtube Channel today, 3/11/2014 and lets see what he has to say about our thread and what information he shares. He is a hero in my book. He has tons of subscribers. many people will be that much more aware. I'm still awaiting replies from pbusardo and riptrippers
-------------

What I want is for you guys to DO something, not sit around and complain about politics and parties. If a person goes against my core beliefs, being the protection of vaping and other factors, I'll not be voting for them. I don't care what party they represent. I do know that my vote counts and so does yours. My voice counts and so do yours. Motivate others to save our right to vape. That's all I'm asking. Please stay on the topic of this thread, I don't want people arguing over irrelevant issues that are not going to further our cause

That dude from IndoorSmokers has gotten a lot of flak because of This and that pertaining to his appearance and ponytail and his enthusiasm etc... but I've always Dug him and I've been watching him since I started Vaping....IndoorSmokers ROCKS subscribe..

 

[Rabbit Chaser]

As a California resident, I positively expect high taxes on e-cigs and all related materials. California loves its taxes and would rather tax than ban (hopefully). I can't imagine a 95% sales tax though. Would it drive me back to smoking? I'm not sure. Am I stocking up on vape gear and juice? Heck yes. Funny, in Cali they push earthquake survival supplies like loads of water and plenty of single dollar bills in cash on hand. But the thing on my mind these days is my vape supplies being threatened by our greedy government. Cigarettes are not taxed as such and they have PROVEN to be deadly. Alcohol? No such tax. It's ridiculous. Then again, this is the same government bureaucracy that I am now paying $6,095.00 in penalty fees for an income tax of $12.00 that I forgot to pay in 1990 when I was 16 and stupid.

I will fight for my right to vape at a fair price and without stigma. I will make those calls. And I will continue to be a proud EX-CIGARETTE SMOKE and vape on as long as possible.

 

[Belushi]

Isn't there some regulation or law at the federal level that limits the states taxation ability. Seems like a 70%+ tax is not a tax at all, rather a means of controlling legal commerce. Did some searches, couldn't really find anything specific (e.g. not an expert at legal mumble-jumble), but that kind of tax has to be boarding on something, can't believe they can just attempt to kill an industry in that manor.

 

[brickfollett]

Heck yeah Rabbit Chaser. I'm not sure about the tax restriction, but yeah anything above 70% just seems prohibitory