Wisconsin Senator Introduces Bill To Clarify E-Cig Exclusion From Law

[BuGlen]

It would appear that Wisconsin State Sen. Glenn Grothman wants to amend the state smoking ban laws already on the books to specify that e-cigs are excluded.

At Issue: Electronic cigarettes : Wsj

To get involved:
To contact your lawmaker about this or any other bill, call the legislative hotline, which is staffed from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays at 608-266-9960 or 800-362-9472. To send an email, go to the Legislature’s website at legis.wisconsin.gov, select select Assembly or Senate and then “Email directory.”

All you Cheese-Head vapers out there need to contact this senator and show your support for this bill!

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

Nice to see someone trying to be sure there is no confusion, the usual suspects are against it-BP's house pet alphabet groups as they thrive on confusion.

 

[Uma]

:thumbs up: Sweet!

 

[Stubby]

I don't know the complete history of this bill but last year the same legislature introduced the same bill. Not sure what happened to it but it likely never got out of committee. I believe Kristin from CASAA had something to do with it. Hopefully she will show up and give us the low down.

 

[stevegmu]

What's that by his name? Oh, it's an R...

 

[Jman8]

Will be contacting my peeps within next few days. Thanks for this info.

 

[Sundodger]

Thanks for the info, didn't see anything in the local rag here but I will now be all over this like Tramon Williams on a Tony Romo pass.

Just so all will know it is SB440, the Wisconsin State Journal will only allow so many visits and then the pay wall comes up and you won't be able to see the story and the bill number.

 

[roxics]

If this is a good bill hopefully the same kind of bill spreads across the nation.

 

[Jman8]

I will now be all over this like Tramon Williams on a Tony Romo pass.

Like it! Cmas came early in WI yesterday.

 

[Uma]

Man oh man is that TSET benefactor in an uproar or what.
Hopefully we can get some more links up, if not for the battle against greed, then at least for the battle to switch.
Ps. When you hit "send", your organized post will become all scrunched up. Fair warning. Try adding extra dashes between words and links.

-----Analysis of refill liquids.--- Analysis of refill liquids for electronic cigarettes - Etter - 2013 - Addiction - Wiley Online Library. -----
----Dr. Joel Nitzen --- http://www.rstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/RSTREET11.pdf -----
----Lancet Doctors correct the CDC's misrepresentation of the Lancet study ---- http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(13)70495-9/fulltext ----------
--- A Fresh Look At THR: a Case FOR the ecig ---- A fresh look at tobacco harm reduction: the case for the electronic cigarette ------
--- Dr. Robertson's 1942 study on PG (kills germs but not monkeys or mice) ----- Propylene Glycol (TRUTH) - Electronic Cigarettes -------

---- TSET bribes towns ----- Few dare call it bribery: OK grants, e-cigs, and another brick in the wall « Watchdog.org ----------
Who benefits from TSET. ALA, ACA, tobaccofree kids, all alphabet soup gangs.

There's so many more links than this too. I hope this helps. Let er rip!

 

[Uma]

Double posted

 

[Jman8]

Contacted my peeps today. Fingers crossed.

 

[DC2]

As the ANTZ continue to spread their vitriol around the nation, this shows we may still be able to come back even after defeat.
This is the kind of thing that needs to continue, as more and more legislators know someone whose life has been saved by electronic cigarettes.

Even when we lose, we can still come back and win.

So educate, and some day maybe we can reverse any damage that has been done already.
Educate as much as you feel comfortable doing, with everyone whom you feel comfortable doing so with.

As for me, there is no one in my family tree who isn't ready to fight for us.
I have educated them until they understood all that this is about.

 

[soba1]

Nice to see.......................

 

[Uma]

There's a few trolls in the comments section that could stand correcting. (If not for them, then for the still smokers)

 

[kristin]

I don't know the complete history of this bill but last year the same legislature introduced the same bill. Not sure what happened to it but it likely never got out of committee. I believe Kristin from CASAA had something to do with it. Hopefully she will show up and give us the low down.

I didn't really have anything to do with it except promote it last year. It was really pushed by conservative talk radio host Vicki McKenna, who is also a vaper and apparently knows Sen. Grothman. It didn't get far, but I believe it was introduced at the end of the session. When I contacted my reps, one thanked me for my concern, but since there were no proposals to include e-cigarettes in the ban that the law was unnecessary.

The proposed Wisconsin bill that concerns me the most is Rep. Bies' "Backpack Tobacco Act," that would add an 84% tax to smoke-free tobacco products and e-cigarettes and the same tax as on cigarettes for "single-unit" tobacco products - which could also affect some e-cigarette products, like disposables or bottles of liquid. It also opens the door to possible flavor bans in the future. It's been submitted to the House Committee on State Affairs and Operations, but I haven't seen it come up on an agenda or public hearing yet. As soon as I know more, CASAA will issue a Call to Action on it.

 

[Sundodger]

Bies is in the Assembly, so he's actually a Representative and not a Senator, not that it makes a big difference, just that when looking at the state web site you won't be able to find him in the Senate area.

In the link below I don't see anything about ecigs, but it all goes hand in hand with what they are trying to do. It has not been brought to the floor as of yet, but yes, something to keep both eyes on. Thanks.

Bies Introduces 'Backpack Tobacco Act'

 

[Uma]

For those who are tired of the "not in MY space" arguments, here is a reminder on "personal space" etiquette. http://etiquette.about.com/od/Manners/a/Etiquette-Rules-What-Is-Personal-Space.htm

"Average comfort levels of personal space distance in the U.S.:

Approximately 0 to 20 inches for intimate couples
Approximately 1-1/2 feet to 3 feet for good friends and family members
Approximately 3 feet to 10 feet for casual acquaintances and coworkers
More than 4 feet for strangers
More than 12 feet for speaking to a large group"

 

[kristin]

Bies is in the Assembly, so he's actually a Representative and not a Senator, not that it makes a big difference, just that when looking at the state web site you won't be able to find him in the Senate area.

In the link below I don't see anything about ecigs, but it all goes hand in hand with what they are trying to do. It has not been brought to the floor as of yet, but yes, something to keep both eyes on. Thanks.

Bies Introduces 'Backpack Tobacco Act'

Yeah, he's a Representative, I'm tired and that was a typo.

The bill that was actually introduced does include e-cigarettes by way of changing the definition of "tobacco products" to:

"...and any other product containing, or made or derived from, tobacco that is intended for human consumption, regardless of whether it is chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by other means; but "tobacco products" does not include cigarettes, as defined under s. 139.30 (1m), or any tobacco product that the federal Food and Drug Administration has approved for sale as a tobacco cessation or tobacco dependence product, or for another medical purpose, and that is being marketed and sold solely for the approved purpose"
2013 Assembly Bill 481

 

[Sundodger]

Yeah, he's a Representative, I'm tired and that was a typo.

The bill that was actually introduced does include e-cigarettes by way of changing the definition of "tobacco products" to:

"...and any other product containing, or made or derived from, tobacco that is intended for human consumption, regardless of whether it is chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by other means; but "tobacco products" does not include cigarettes, as defined under s. 139.30 (1m), or any tobacco product that the federal Food and Drug Administration has approved for sale as a tobacco cessation or tobacco dependence product, or for another medical purpose, and that is being marketed and sold solely for the approved purpose"
2013 Assembly Bill 481

Thanks Kristin. Looks like his web page isn't up to date because what you have posted isn't on it. He's from Sister Bay, I know a lot of people over there and will get on them to make sure they contact him and rattle his cage.

I also think Gov. Walker needs to hear from vapers about this. He would have the final say as far as signing any bill or not. He had promised to look into repealing the indoor smoking ban in private businesses and then backed down. Maybe we can get him to commit to our side of this issue so we know if he'll sign something good for us or not.