West Virginia Bill Would Increase Smokeless Tobacco Taxes by 600% -- SB593 & HB3138

[Placebo Effect]

CASAA: Call to Action! West Virginia Smokeless Tobacco Tax Increase of 600%+ -- SB593 & HB3138 (Legislative Contact Info and Updates)

West Virginia: 600%+ Increase in Smokeless tobacco Tax (SB593 & HB3138)

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[full text of SB593] [legislative tracking for SB593]
[full text and legislative tracking for HB3138 coming soon]

If enacted, these bills would: Increase West Virginia's tax on smokeless tobacco products from 7% to 50% of wholesale price (please note that these bills would *not* tax e-cigarettes). The proceeds of the taxes would be distributed as follows: Seventy-five percent to the West Virginia Medical Services Fund (Medicaid); one percent to the Civil Contingent Fund; and the balance to the General Revenue Fund. These bills would also increase the tax on cigarettes by one dollar (from $0.55 to $1.55 per pack). CASAA does not take positions on taxes related to smoked products.

SB539 and HB3138 are currently awaiting hearings in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and the House Health & Human Services Committee, respectively. West Virginia's legislative session ends on April 13, 2013, so swift action is needed to stop these bills from becoming law. If you are in the Charleston, West Virginia area and may be able to testify against the smokeless tax increases, please e-mail CASAA at board@casaa.org.

 

[Fiamma]

This process feels more and more like the Whack A Mole game. They stick up a head, we whack it and two more pop up, whack them and 6 more pop up.

We have no choice but to keep whacking away.

 

[jlew]

This process feels more and more like the Whack A Mole game. They stick up a head, we whack it and two more pop up, whack them and 6 more pop up.

We have no choice but to keep whacking away.

Then WHACK We Shall!

I just sent my email to both complete lists of reps...

======= Email Text =================================

TO 37 recipients

Subject: Re: WV Smokeless Tobacco Tax Increase (SB539 / HB3138)



Dear Honorable Senate and House Health and
Human Resources Committee Members,

I am writing in regards to the proposed bills for a tax increase on smokeless tobacco products.

Many people opt for using "Smokeless" type products which include snus, chewing tobacco,
snuff, and other smokeless products because these products are much less harmful than smoking.

I am fully opposed to SB539 / HB3138 because this bill would impose unnecessary and punitive
tax increases on smokeless tobacco products. These products are already set at such a high price
that many who use them, cannot afford them or sacrifice other things to have them.

After 34+ years of smoking and being diagnosed with COPD and Asthma, I finally quit smoking
by switching to a far less hazardous smoke-free product that has changed mine and my family's life
for the better. Thanks to "Smokeless", I can breathe much better, my sense of smell and taste have
improved drastically, my clothing/hair/personal belongings/etc., no longer smell like smoke or have
a sticky film all over them... Switching to "Smokeless" has greatly reduced my health risks.
"Smokeless" is much better than combustible cigarettes in many ways.

Isn't it the goal to become "Smoke Free"?
Isn't that the main idea behind "Smokeless" products?

The initial purpose for increasing cigarette tax rates was to reimburse state expenditures for treating
the many diseases caused by cigarette smoking. Because smokeless tobacco products have been
found to be at least 98% less harmful than cigarettes, there is no justification for such an outrageously
excessive tax.

In effect... the only thing this will cause is discouraging smokers from switching to a less harmful
alternative.

Also, sharply increasing smokeless tobacco taxes will encourage former smokers who had switched
to return to smoking.

Isn't it a goal of the Health Departments to get people to Stop smoking?

Increases on smokeless tobacco taxes will also lead to "Cross-Border Sales" as consumers who live
near bordering states can easily travel to Virginia ($0.22 per 1.2 oz can), Pennsylvania (no smokeless
tax), Kentucky ($0.19 per unit), Ohio (19% of manufacturer's price), and Maryland (30% of mfg's
price).

I ask that you oppose and/or cast aside SB539 / HB3138 as the only things that will come of this
type of action will be more hardships on people who already face enough as it is.

For more information on Smokeless and Harm Reduction, please visit CASAA.org's website:

Tobacco Harm Reduction
Tobacco Harm Reduction

Smoke-Free Tobacco
Smoke-free Tobacco

CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives
CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association



Thank you.

=================================================



Hope this helps

 

[Bill Godshall]

Tobacco tax increase legislation (SB 593) dies as Senate Committee fails to take action
Bill to hike cigarette tax falters in committee » Local News » The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Put simply, the veteran physician couldn’t attract sufficient support to get his bill moving.

“I think it was a combination of things,” Stollings said.

“I didn’t get any love over on the House side, I didn’t get any love in the governor’s office, and I didn’t get a whole lot of love in the Senate.”

 

[Fiamma]

Maybe if he was less a pig at the trough of taxation he'd get more love.

 

[Placebo Effect]

We've updated the status of this CTA to DEFEATED. However, West Virginia residents should continue contacting committee members to give them accurate information about the risks of using smokeless tobacco.

CASAA: Call to Action! West Virginia Smokeless Tobacco Tax Increase of 600%+ -- SB593 & HB3138 (DEFEATED)

 

[jlew]

EXCELLENT!

Now if we can get the Mid Ohio Valley Health Department to listen to and see reality and reason,
maybe we can get their insane addition of e-cigs to the Clean Indoor Air Act repealed.