UPDATE: US Senate Panel Approves FDA Tobacco-Regulation Measure

[Surf Monkey]

I agree with a lot of what's being said here. It is absurd how legislators think they're going to end smoking (which they actually don't want to do since it brings in so much revenue) by putting scary labels on the packs. That didn't work in Canada or the UK. Why would it work here?

But the main reason I mentioned it is that all the speakers today hammered the idea that alternatives to smoking that promote public health are a good idea... and then proceeded to say absolutely nothing about e-cigarettes. If these guys are serious about wanting to promote smoking alternatives, they need to be made aware of non tobacco products like the e-cigarette. Practically everything they talked about was a tobacco product of one sort or another, probably because tobacco lobbyists have thoroughly greased their palms. But if constituents continue to educate them on the benefits of e-cigarettes it's bound to sink in sooner or later. It's our job to educate these people, because given their lifestyles, they're never going to find out about them on their own.

 

[Smokin'Sandy]

I did contact my Senators and Coburn (the one mentioned by Bill a few pages back) brought up the electronic cigarette. What I don't understand is why he would want them exempt from being a tobacco product. If they are found to be a reduced harm tobacco product, there would be no problem in marketing them. Only smoking cesation devices are not classified as a reduced harm tobacco product.

I'll post Bill's post here:

The US Senate is likely to consider S. 982 (Kennedy's FDA tobacco bill) during the week of June 2.

It is important to know that passage of the legislation will have no negative legal or regulatory impact on e-cigarettes. One of my goals, which now appears unlikely, was to amend the legislation to prevent the FDA from banning e-cigarettes as drug devices (by defining e-cigarettes as a new category of tobacco product).

But the legislation's ban on new smokefree tobacco products (and the false claims by Senate Democrats that Reynolds is target marketing these products to youth) could encourage the FDA to further crack down on e-cigarettes (than if the tobacco legislation weren't enacted).

Sen. Coburn offered, then withdrew, his amendment (i.e. the ECA amendment) that would exempt e-cigarettes from the definition of a tobacco product, during Wednesday night's HELP Cmte markup session (the session that isn't available on the committee's website). Coburn will try negotiating an agreement with Dodd on that amendment prior to Senate floor consideration.

But since S. 982 doesn't define e-cigarettes as a tobacco product (or otherwise apply to e-cigarettes), I'm not convinced that passage of the Coburn amendment would provide any legal or regulatory benefits for e-cigarettes (as the FDA could still rule that e-cigarettes, or certain e-cigarette products, are unapproved drug devices, and take action).

I'm hoping Coburn was confused and then understood thereby leading him to withdraw his amendment.

 

[pea]

awwww man, s*#$ errrrr, bad'na'good.
who are these fools fda'ssssssssssss is.
this shighz is out'a control..
engage.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Richard Burr (R, North Carolina) just got done discussing e-cigarettes on the Senate floor. He characterized them as a "very promising new alternative to smoking that greatly reduces the risk involved with nicotine usage."

I'm a Democrat, so I'm not in the habit of praising Republicans, but major kudos to Burr. He has this issue absolutely dialed.

 

[Smokin'Sandy]

Richard Burr (R, North Carolina) just got done discussing e-cigarettes on the Senate floor. He characterized them as a "very promising new alternative to smoking that greatly reduces the risk involved with nicotine usage."

I'm a Democrat, so I'm not in the habit of praising Republicans, but major kudos to Burr. He has this issue absolutely dialed.

Woohoo! I'm a Democrat too, but sometimes I do like a little freedom.

Excellent! Really. I'm thinking that all of our letters, emails and phone calls did get through or hoping anyway that many senators won't be without a clue about the e-cigs.

Thanks Surf Monkey for the updates.

 

[halopunker]

Richard Burr (R, North Carolina) just got done discussing e-cigarettes on the Senate floor. He characterized them as a "very promising new alternative to smoking that greatly reduces the risk involved with nicotine usage."

I'm a Democrat, so I'm not in the habit of praising Republicans, but major kudos to Burr. He has this issue absolutely dialed.

I love Mr. Burr, he is an amazing speaker and everything that he says makes perfect sense.

 

[Kate51]

Just a note: the Senator(a) fighting against this particular bill are pro-tobacco industry, and the farmers producing tobacco.
They receive contributions from same, I don't think they would be in a postition to be also fighting against the e-cig bans or proposed action against them. The Senator would be obligated to go just the opposite. So in view of this, IMO, they would not be good candidates for e-cig backers.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Just a note: the Senator(a) fighting against this particular bill are pro-tobacco industry, and the farmers producing tobacco.
They receive contributions from same, I don't think they would be in a postition to be also fighting against the e-cig bans or proposed action against them. The Senator would be obligated to go just the opposite. So in view of this, IMO, they would not be good candidates for e-cig backers.

Exactly, and this is why it's critical to understand the legislation in question, the role of the Senators arguing for and against it, and the reasons they're doing that.

Burr is in the pocket of big tobacco. That's more or less established fact. The only reason I agree with him in this case is that he proposes an amendment to the current bill that would exempt devices like e-cigarettes because they're not using consumables derived from tobacco. He's correct to be doing that, but it's pretty obvious that the reason is he wants the door left open for RJR and the other big tobacco companies to make their own e-cigarettes. His various speeches today were crystal clear. He wants the tobacco companies to have the freedom to market all sorts of new products with impunity. The bill under consideration would seriously limit their ability to do so.

 

[JustMeAgain]

Now Lautenberg is relating the history of cigarettes. I am learning so much. Did anyone else here know that cigarettes are addiciting?

I really wanted to hear Burr talk about ecigs. I walked away during their adjournment and missed it...wonder where else I can catch it?

Lautenberg is a terrible speaker.

You know, if they'd actually enforce the laws, we wouldn't need to worry about kids and tobacco. But since our laws have no teeth, we keep punishing everyone else.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Burr only said about three sentences about them.

 

[TropicalBob]

Richard Burr was exquisite, easily the brightest of the bunch. His chart on dangers from various tobacco products was dead-on, but I bet he was speaking to a virtually empty Senate chamber. He did flatly say that all of the promising harm reduction products -- and he named e-cigs among them -- will be banned under the bill.

That's Swedish snus, dissolvables, snuff and e-cigs. We will be driven back to a choice of unfiltered or filtered cigarettes.

Notes: Lautenberg is clearly past prime. He did his job years ago, but his time has passed. Key Hagen is far less effective than Burr, and represents the interests of tobacco farmers, her constituency. Burr is logical, a good speaker, but minds are made up on this issue. And Dodd drove me nuts with the idea that this bill will somehow "save the children" from taking up tobacco. Who is he kidding?

Burr made it clear that more "young people" consume alcohol and smoke pot than use tobacco! So ... let's go after tobacco!

More Must-See TV tomorrow!

 

[Surf Monkey]

Yeah, that's my take too. Even though I recognize that Burr is in the pocket of big tobacco, he still made the correct point on all the low risk nicotine products (including e-cigarettes.) The idea that this bill would ban all these less dangerous alternatives is just absurd. Yes, allowing the big tobacco companies to push new, untested products is probably a bad idea given their track record, but to paint all of these products with the same brush is a huge mistake. Now is the time to hit your Senators with your thoughts on e-cigarettes and the potential that they may be banned. There's an amendment proposed that would classify e-cigarettes differently so that they're not covered by this legislation. At the very least, voice your support for that.

 

[myrtlemeva]

Can anybody please tell when the next episode of "The US Senate Show" is on....?
Many thanks. X

 

[JustMeAgain]

Can anybody please tell when the next episode of "The US Senate Show" is on....?
Many thanks. X

love that phrase 'the senate show' aka 'must sleep tv'?

I've got a minimized - and currently muted stream playing on my computer since we don't get Cspan2 here. Can't say I've ever noticed it missing from my channel line up before, but I am glad we can watch.

How do you like the music they play between 'scenes'?

 

[RandallFlagg]

love that phrase 'the senate show' aka 'must sleep tv'?

I've got a minimized - and currently muted stream playing on my computer since we don't get Cspan2 here. Can't say I've ever noticed it missing from my channel line up before, but I am glad we can watch.

How do you like the music they play between 'scenes'?

The music they should play is The Imperial March from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back..

 

[halopunker]

Can anybody please tell when the next episode of "The US Senate Show" is on....?
Many thanks. X

Senate is back in session now.

http://play.rbn.com/play.asx?url=cspan/cspan/wmlive/cspan2v.asf&proto=mms?mswmext=.asx

 

[OutWest]

thanks for the link, Rob. Appreciate it.

Regulating tobacco products scheduled for 10:30 AM Eastern Time

 

[ShadowDemon420]

Arrrr I just started to watch it at 10:56 did they say anything about it yet? thanks for the video! WOW KAY HAGAN I EMAILED HER IS TALKING RIGHT NOW! WHOA! this is interesting


Was she talking about the e cig in the ''forign manufactures?'' who ever is watching this could they explain what she just said? lol but she is not for the bill which is good

 

[midian]

Just got a letter sent via email to both of the Iowa reps about the bill...I sure hope that our state senator's will listen to reason, science, and a simple plea to allow smokers a choice. Allowing the FDA to regulate electronic cigarettes is silly...especially when looking at the fact that the eLiquids are sold 'without' nicotine...

Anyway, I got my voice sent up to the Iowa senators; I hope they'll listen.

 

[Ivisi]

Senator Burr is speaking at this moment, 11:15 Eastern.