Tobacco laws: California Assembly votes to raise smoking age, regulate e-cigarettes

[zoiDman]

...

EDIT: Oh, I foresee the proposition passing by a landslide. I never underestimate the California voter stupidity in taxing themselves willingly.

And what makes it almost Comical (if it Wasn't True) is that No One Demands, or even Asks, what Percentage of these Tax Revenues go to where they are Supposed to be Going.

It's like the World's Biggest Three Card Monte game. Vote for Taxes to save Medi-Cal - Use Taxes to Fund a Boondoggle High Speed Train.

 

[plumeguy]

There is something very unfair and deeply dangerous about government agencies profiting from citizens with addictions.

 

[Endor]

There is something very unfair and deeply dangerous about government agencies profiting from citizens with addictions.

Indeed, especially since the reason given for taxing cigarettes is to dissuade people from smoking by making it more expensive to continue.

However, when that does work and people stop smoking, uh-oh... tax revenues drop. They've already set the course to kill vaping (California leadership has been staunchly anti-vaping across the board), so I wonder who they will blame then?

 

[Endor]

And what makes it almost Comical (if it Wasn't True) is that No One Demands, or even Asks, what Percentage of these Tax Revenues go to where they are Supposed to be Going.

It's like the World's Biggest Three Card Monte game. Vote for Taxes to save Medi-Cal - Use Taxes to Fund a Boondoggle High Speed Train.

Absolutely agree.

Hence my simple voting strategy for California propositions:

No on more taxes. Period. I don't care what it's for. The state gets plenty, make it work.
No on bonds, because they represent future taxes (they have to be paid back, people! With interest!)
No on more government control over any aspect of anybody's life, doesn't matter if if affects me or not.
Yes on Less government control, which is why I'll probably vote to legalize (m stuff) even though I've never used it
Yes on less taxes. Always, although this is as rare as a unicorn on California ballots (maybe Prop 13 back in the 1970's was the last REAL tax decrease?)

I vote NO a LOT.

And yes, I'm one of those rare people that actually READS the text of the bills in the voter pamphlets.

 

[oplholik]

How many people read and understand the texts of the bills? My guess is not that many.

 

[nicnik]

California's Anti-Vaping Law Puts Puritanism Above Health

 

[zoiDman]

Senate Oversight Committee Chairman Ron Johnson is going to give an Interview Tonight to discuss the FDA and e-Cigarettes.

Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) | Twitter

Please pass it Along to people who might Not have heard about it.

 

[zoiDman]

Senate Oversight Committee Chairman Ron Johnson is going to give an Interview Tonight to discuss the FDA and e-Cigarettes.

Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) | Twitter

Please pass it Along to people who might Not have heard about it.

OK... Looks like this Interview with Senator Ron Johnson was done Last Night.

But here is a Link to the Re-Broadcast of thanks to Stubby.

Stream Vicki McKenna HR 3 Friday Free | 1310 WIBA

 

[renderwerks]

California's Anti-Vaping Law Puts Puritanism Above Health

I know - money, money, money, oh yea, and money. Actually more correctly stated "less money".

All the shift to vaping has Cali(and a lot of other states) in serious hot water because of the Tobacco Master Settlement, and having sold bonds for expected revenues from it.

All us vapers effed up the money going in. They needed to fix that. They need to keep existing smokers, and to make us smoke again so the money comes back. Hmmm, if they get rid of the vapor industry, they keep their current customers, and many of us smoke again. Problem fixed - for them.

Jeez, it's always money... I'm going to go sit in a cloud for a while -

 

[zoiDman]

I know - money, money, money, oh yea, and money. Actually more correctly stated "less money".

All the shift to vaping has Cali(and a lot of other states) in serious hot water because of the Tobacco Master Settlement, and having sold bonds for expected revenues from it.

All us vapers effed up the money going in. They needed to fix that. They need to keep existing smokers, and to make us smoke again so the money comes back. Hmmm, if they get rid of the vapor industry, they keep their current customers, and many of us smoke again. Problem fixed - for them.

Jeez, it's always money... I'm going to go sit in a cloud for a while -

Something else that Needs to be Fixed is when Legislator gets up and say's we have to Pass this Bill to "Save the ____", people need to Hammer the Legislator on EXACTLY how is this Bill going to "Save the ____"?

Say'n that Taxing the Snit out of Adults is going to somehow reduce Teen Smoking or Vaping sounds Great to the Uninformed Public. But where is the Data from Independent, Un-Politically Biased Studies that shows that it will?

And if you Tell me that the Tax Monies are going to go to ____, then put Clause in the Bill that the Money can ONLY go to ____. And can't be Diverted thru a Accounting Slight of Hand to do something like fund a High Speed Train.

People have got to start Demand more of those who are supposed to be Representing us. And the Media needs to do a Better (any) Job of Holding those in Government Accountable.

 

[pamdis]

Something else that Needs to be Fixed is when Legislator gets up and say's we have to Pass this Bill to "Save the ____", people need to Hammer the Legislator on EXACTLY how is this Bill going to "Save the ____"?

Say'n that Taxing the Snit out of Adults is going to somehow reduce Teen Smoking or Vaping sounds Great to the Uninformed Public. But where is the Data from Independent, Un-Politically Biased Studies that shows that it will?

And if you Tell me that the Tax Monies are going to go to ____, then put Clause in the Bill that the Money can ONLY go to ____. And can't be Diverted thru a Accounting Slight of Hand to do something like fund a High Speed Train.

People have got to start Demand more of those who are supposed to be Representing us. And the Media needs to do a Better (any) Job of Holding those in Government Accountable.

Here's the problem with the clause that directs where the money goes. Back in the late 70's, early 80's, I don't remember exactly, Illinois created a lottery. There was a lot of push back because gambling was illegal, so why would the state start a gambling operation. But it got pushed through because the money was promised to go to the schools as part of the law. And it has. But we all mistakenly thought it would be in addition to the money the state was already sending the schools, and that they would be getting a big boost. Instead, the general fund money to the schools was steadily cut over the years. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the money the schools are getting is ONLY from the lottery today. So, lottery money is still spent as promised and not diverted, but the previous money spent on education HAS been diverted.

 

[zoiDman]

Here's the problem with the clause that directs where the money goes. Back in the late 70's, early 80's, I don't remember exactly, Illinois created a lottery. There was a lot of push back because gambling was illegal, so why would the state start a gambling operation. But it got pushed through because the money was promised to go to the schools as part of the law. And it has. But we all mistakenly thought it would be in addition to the money the state was already sending the schools, and that they would be getting a big boost. Instead, the general fund money to the schools was steadily cut over the years. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the money the schools are getting is ONLY from the lottery today. So, lottery money is still spent as promised and not diverted, but the previous money spent on education HAS been diverted.

I Agree to an Extent. Having taught in Education, I have seen the Budgetary Shell Games many times.

And the Subversion of what was Meant to be Gain only to see it be Loss. But these were the Exceptions not the Rule.

I think what Needs is More Transparency of where Taxes/Funding goes. And publication of Who Exactly is behind how Funding is Diverted/Spent. Something our mainstream Media does a Very Poor job of doing for the Average Voter.

 

[DJLEC]

Does anyone know what Tax amount that CA will be looking for on e-liquid.

I read where someone stated these Lawmakers believe that 2 ML's equals a pack of Cigarette's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[zoiDman]

Does anyone know what Tax amount that CA will be looking for on e-liquid.

I read where someone stated these Lawmakers believe that 2 ML's equals a pack of Cigarette's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is Kinda the 64,000 Dollar Question?

 

[oplholik]

We will be finding out pretty soon I suppose. Don't be looking for them to hold back, I'm sure they will want plenty.

 

[zoiDman]

I just think it is Cool that they can Push for Taxing e-Cigarettes and e-liquids, and not Specifically say How Much the Tax is going to be.

How the can a Legislator vote for a Tax if they Don't know how much the Tax Is?

Why don't we All just send them our Paychecks ever month and they can send us Back what They think is Fair.

 

[Katya]

How the can a Legislator vote for a Tax if they Don't know how much the Tax Is?

How?

 

[zoiDman]

How?

All I hope is when this is All Over-n-Done with, and when it is More Expensive to use what few e-Cigarette are left than it is to Smoke, that some look back and say that 2016 was the Year that I opened my Eyes to just how Crocked and Corrupt the Government can be.

 

[renderwerks]

How the can a Legislator vote for a Tax if they Don't know how much the Tax Is?

Why don't we All just send them our Paychecks ever month and they can send us Back what They think is Fair.

Well, when we have people like Hank Johnson working for us, what can we expect -

During a House committee meeting, Rep. Hank Johnson said he feared that stationing 8,000 Marines on Guam would cause the island to "become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize."

They'll come up with a new simplified tax form:
Form: 1040FU
1. How much did you make......................................................$______

2. Send it in.



Rick

 

[zoiDman]

And the Band Played On...

Calif. Senate approves tobacco, e-cigarette ban at state parks

Bill Text - SB-1333 State beaches and parks: smoking ban.