UPDATE 6/25/14! NJ Gov. Chris Christie proposes taxing e-cigs at rate equal to $2.70/pack cigarette tax + other issues

[Eric A. Blair]

NJ legislators need to be told that taxing e-cigs (especially at that outrageous rate) will destroy brick and mortar e-cig retailers in NJ by giving most of their business to Internet retailers and B&M retailers located near borders of adjacent states.

I don't believe for a second that Gov. Christie intentionally proposed such nonsense. It's a $33 billion budget with a lot of stuff in it. Written by other people. You have to delegate and sometimes garbage is the result.

When I hear him say that he wants people to smoke cigarettes as opposed to quitting with E cigarettes And presses for a tax in his own words then I will believe it. I am one of his supporters and he is a straight shooter. His mother died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. I can't imagine in 1 million years That he doesn't wish that this invention was around 35 years ago to help his mom quit.

Nick Vadala From Philly.com sounds like his headline is way ahead of the facts.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I don't believe for a second that Gov. Christie intentionally proposed such nonsense. It's a $33 billion budget with a lot of stuff in it. Written by other people. You have to delegate and sometimes garbage is the result.

When I hear him say that he wants people to smoke cigarettes as opposed to quitting with E cigarettes And presses for a tax in his own words then I will believe it. I am one of his supporters and he is a straight shooter. His mother died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. I can't imagine in 1 million years That he doesn't wish that this invention was around 35 years ago to help his mom quit.

Nick Vadala From Philly.com sounds like his headline is way ahead of the facts.

Sign up for one of the hearings this week or next and deliver that message in person.

If you come to Westampton or Trenton (where we're really trying to turn people out) you get to meet me.

 

[sonicdsl]

I don't believe for a second that Gov. Christie intentionally proposed such nonsense. It's a $33 billion budget with a lot of stuff in it. Written by other people. You have to delegate and sometimes garbage is the result.

When I hear him say that he wants people to smoke cigarettes as opposed to quitting with E cigarettes And presses for a tax in his own words then I will believe it. I am one of his supporters and he is a straight shooter. His mother died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. I can't imagine in 1 million years That he doesn't wish that this invention was around 35 years ago to help his mom quit.

Nick Vadala From Philly.com sounds like his headline is way ahead of the facts.

Nonetheless, it's his staff, and ultimately, he is responsible for their actions, just like anywhere else.

 

[Katya]

I don't believe for a second that Gov. Christie intentionally proposed such nonsense. It's a $33 billion budget with a lot of stuff in it. Written by other people. You have to delegate and sometimes garbage is the result.

When I hear him say that he wants people to smoke cigarettes as opposed to quitting with E cigarettes And presses for a tax in his own words then I will believe it. I am one of his supporters and he is a straight shooter. His mother died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. I can't imagine in 1 million years That he doesn't wish that this invention was around 35 years ago to help his mom quit.

Nick Vadala From Philly.com sounds like his headline is way ahead of the facts.

I suggest you write the Governor a letter. Or email his office. If he doesn't realize what's going on, somebody should inform him. You'll be doing us all a service.

 

[sammeedog]

I suggest you write the Governor a letter. Or email his office. If he doesn't realize what's going on, somebody should inform him. You'll be doing us all a service.

It's hit local and state news, he should know

 

[Katya]

It's hit local and state news, he should know

Thanks. Still, letters from constituents might make a difference.

 

[Eric A. Blair]

I suggest you write the Governor a letter. Or email his office. If he doesn't realize what's going on, somebody should inform him. You'll be doing us all a service.

I will. Remember that in New Jersey the governor has line item veto power. Meaning he can just strike Any particular item out of the budget. The only way the legislature can override it is by a two thirds majority. And that is extremely unlikely because they would need Republicans to cross party lines.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Americans for Tax Reform opposes Governor Christie’s Proposed Tax Hikes on Small Business and E-Cigarettes:
ATR Opposes Governor Christie

 

[Kent C]

Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has proposed (in his budget) taxing e-cigs at rate equal to NJ's $2.70/pack cigarette tax to punish and seize money from vapers, and to destroy Brick and Mortar sales of e-cigs in NJ.
Gov. Christie Plans New Tax Rate for E-Cigarettes

isn't this the same bill the Democratic legislature in NJ has had on the books for over a year now. It has the same $2.70 rate....

A1944 Increases tobacco products wholesale sales and use tax rates to be on par with tax rate imposed on cigarettes under cigarette tax; dedicates revenue for smoking and tobacco use cessation programs.
Health and Senior Services

Identical Bill Number: S1213
Last Session Bill Number: A2772 S1887

Conaway

 

[Katya]

The plot thickens.

Good detective work, Kent!

 

[jadeninja]

You have to have a credit card to order on line. Saying that kids get e-cigs and vape pens on line? Why do 8th graders have credit cards and if they do isn't their parents responsibility to check that? So shouldn't the parent be held accountable?

 

[pamdis]

You have to have a credit card to order on line. Saying that kids get e-cigs and vape pens on line? Why do 8th graders have credit cards and if they do isn't their parents responsibility to check that? So shouldn't the parent be held accountable?

Unfortunately, a 13yr old can take his allowance to any store, buy a prepaid credit card, and use it online. A credit card is no longer an automatic age verification tool, nor an indication that a parent will see the purchases on a monthly statement.

 

[JustJulie]

CASAA issued a Call to Action for New Jersey earlier this week:

CASAA: Call to Action! New Jersey's Governor Christie is Proposing a Tax on E-Cigarettes at the Same Rate as Combustible Cigarettes

 

[2coils]

Unfortunately, a 13yr old can take his allowance to any store, buy a prepaid credit card, and use it online. A credit card is no longer an automatic age verification tool, nor an indication that a parent will see the purchases on a monthly statement.

Yes things have changed. These pre paid cards are all over the place. Though, our government is becoming obsessed with infringing on our rights. What happened to the days of letting parents take care of their own kids!?

 

[rothenbj]

Unfortunately, a 13yr old can take his allowance to any store, buy a prepaid credit card, and use it online. A credit card is no longer an automatic age verification tool, nor an indication that a parent will see the purchases on a monthly statement.

Very true, but a kid can't sign for an adult signature required.

 

[Placebo Effect]

This morning, the Newark Star-Ledger published an Op Ed I wrote in opposition to the tax Christie's 'sin tax' on e-cigs would burn quitters: Op-ed | NJ.com

I confronted Chris Christie as he exited a town hall meeting near my house today. I told him his tax on e-cigarettes would discourage smokers from quitting smoking and he replied, "We're taxing similar products similarly."

 

[sonicdsl]

This morning, the Newark Star-Ledger published an Op Ed I wrote in opposition to the tax Christie's 'sin tax' on e-cigs would burn quitters: Op-ed | NJ.com

I confronted Chris Christie as he exited a town hall meeting near my house today. I told him his tax on e-cigarettes would discourage smokers from quitting smoking and he replied, "We're taxing similar products similarly."

Well that shows he knows about the tax proposal on ecigs, but knows nothing about the facts about ecigs (or else he wouldn't have said they were "similar").

 

[Vapist]

I can't convey how angry this makes me. They said the insane tax rates for tobacco cigarettes were to "discourage smokers" and pay for health care and all this crap.

I was born and raised in NJ, moved out because of their insane laws and property taxes when I was in my mid 30s. I'm currently in VA, which has many insane political issues as well, but one of them is not yet about conflating vapes with analog cigarettes and attempting to tax vapers with the very same tax rate imposed on analogs.

It's infuriating! Look, the smokers are escaping and we stand to lose millions in tax revenue! Quick, transfer the taxes onto vapes with no logical explanation at all.

I've happily vaped for the past four years and haven't really been heavily involved. But lately, some "anti's" got me back into the legality and legislation of vaping with their psuedo science and hatred of anything that looks like smoke.

I swear I'm getting more involved to defend vaping anywhere, anytime, from now on. I'm not going to sit by idly and watch them squash vapers like they squashed smokers. /rant achieved

 

[Vapist]

Haha! This!! ^^^^ If they taxed his food intake, there'd be no more budget woes. And slapping vapers around with taxes is meant to defer attention from his bridge woes.

 

[JollyRogers]

I can't convey how angry this makes me. They said the insane tax rates for tobacco cigarettes were to "discourage smokers" and pay for health care and all this crap.

I was born and raised in NJ, moved out because of their insane laws and property taxes when I was in my mid 30s. I'm currently in VA, which has many insane political issues as well, but one of them is not yet about conflating vapes with analog cigarettes and attempting to tax vapers with the very same tax rate imposed on analogs.

It's infuriating! Look, the smokers are escaping and we stand to lose millions in tax revenue! Quick, transfer the taxes onto vapes with no logical explanation at all.

I've happily vaped for the past four years and haven't really been heavily involved. But lately, some "anti's" got me back into the legality and legislation of vaping with their psuedo science and hatred of anything that looks like smoke.

I swear I'm getting more involved to defend vaping anywhere, anytime, from now on. I'm not going to sit by idly and watch them squash vapers like they squashed smokers. /rant achieved

We keep electing the likes of Terry McAuliffe, and standby for just that. It's already started with him trying to amend laws put on his desk for him to sign.