Wisconsin Senator proposes bill to EXCLUDE e-cigarettes from indoor smoking ban!

[MlrGrl]

In speaking with Senator Grothman's aide, we are definitely going to need people to come in and speak or read statements. If nothing else, fill the room with supporters and a few speakers during public comments. I will speak when the opportunity arises........

........I'm hoping to get a chance to go to Madison and actually demonstrate e-cigarettes in use and show them how little my metallic blue eGo resembles traditional cigarettes (both in appearance and in use.)

So, I hope more people from Wisconsin start finding this thread and if they didn't have a chance to get an email/phone call to their reps, they'll be willing to make a trip to Madison in the (hopefully) near future.
.

I'm in and ready to go to Madtown anytime!

So far, I have written to Rep. Honadel and Sen. Larson. I was going to wait until after New Years to call them as a follow up, but I think I will change that to tomorrow so if they are in the area, I can hopefully meet up with them for a demonstration.

I'm sorry I am not in a position to copy/cut/paste/respond correctly, but someone mentioned Sen. Pam Galloway. If memory serves, she is/was in the medical field and could be home over the holiday break. Maybe give her office a call in the morning and offer a demonstration before she heads back to Madison?

Someone also mentioned Wisconsin is a state where legislators listen. YES! I have personally seen it at least 3 times since moving here 14 yrs ago. BUT ONLY if people get involved and while writing letters is the best (USPS best method), even a quick phone call can do wonders!!! They have to keep a tally of every phone call and letter received and when an unusual amount of phone calls and letters start coming in on an issue, someone's eyebrows goes up and they start listening and looking into things.

 

[Luisa]

If and when it gets to that point, I have made an arrangement to get to Madison and back.

GGOOD FOR YOU! You are an asset for this community.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Kristin,

What is the date of, and in what format was, the ACS document you posted at
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...arettes-indoor-smoking-ban-2.html#post4881624

Based upon its claims, that ACS document appears to have been written after September 2010, but before April, 2011 when the FDA acknowledged that e-cigarettes are tobacco products, and indicated the agency would comply with Judge Leon's court ruling.

Also, did the ACS send a letter (along with that document) to Grothman, which is the appropriate way to communicate with a state Senator?

And more importantly, when is Grothman introducing the bill?

 

[skydragon]

I just want everyone to know that DC2 contacted me about this. Doing what he can to help even though he doesn't live in our state.
Thanks DC2.

Kristin,

You deserve credit as well and if I can be there when they hold the hearing, I will be. I have always said we need to make ourselves heard so hopefully we can fill the place up.

 

[MeltingGlass]

Just sent email letters to both my senators and congress men/women.

 

[MeltingGlass]

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I'm so sorry to have to ask this but who else besides our 1 senator and my 1 district congressmen do we send our letters too?

 

[kristin]

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I'm so sorry to have to ask this but who else besides our 2 senators and my 2 district congressmen do we send our letters too?

The Call to Action page has the emails of all of the legislature (Senate and House). GO ahead and send the same email to them that you sent to your reps. Thanks!!

You have 2 of each legislators in your area? I thought everyone only had one of each! LOL

 

[MeltingGlass]

I always thought we had one democrat and one republic for each house. I guess that's why I didn't want to ask. Thanks.

 

[TinyTimberGal]

DC2 contacted me as well. Thank you DC2.

I just finished sending my emails to my Reps, and thanks Kristin for all your efforts.

 

[Cyatis]

[I always thought we had one democrat and one republic for each house. I guess that's why I didn't want to ask. Thanks.

In our case (state government), we have one representative, and one senator per district. People in Wisconsin can physically only live in one district at any given time.

In each district, there is an election, and the winner (who usually is a democrat or republican, but could be from any affiliation), takes the seat.

The senator districts are much larger than the representative districts, so there are more representatives than senators, overall. So you basically get to vote for one senator, and one representative each election.

However, that being said, as a group, both the state assembly (which have representatives), and the state senate (which have senators) still need many of them to get anything done, and my representative and senator has only one vote in each body, so ... I sent a letter to all of them. They can decide I'm not in their area and ignore it if they choose, but then again, they might read it, and they might help sponsor it, or at the very least vote for the bill later on, so their opinion matters, and they all got a letter.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. I'd like to believe that I'm just a relatively normal person, with a family, and pets (we are still working on the who owns who relationship, as our opinions differ on the subject). There are many friendly people on this forum that won't mind answering them at all.

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Tonight one of my gaming guilds, is going to be running instances. They know that I vape, and I'm going to ask them to send letters also.

On a lighter note, here are a few pics. Two are of a very special friend who thinks he owns me. Bob here was named because we renamed one of our neighbor's cats who's real name was completely unknown, out out convenience, and the humorous conversation we had with the cat's owner. The last one is of my current PV setup, its been pretty good to me so far. I hope you like them, thanks to all that contribute.



They may be clicked to be seen better.

 

[kristin]

Much thanks to DC2 for helping with this - you rock!!

 

[Nedley]

Much thanks to DC2 for helping with this - you rock!!

Dittos to that.

 

[kristin]

Anyone who would be willing to attend any public comment meetings and/or speak, please PM me with your email and telephone number so I can gather everyone together ahead of time. We can have a mini strategy meeting and discuss a game plan! Senator Grothman's office said getting people to tell their story in person will be VERY important! I'm hoping to meet with the senator in the next few weeks to give him a demonstration and education about e-cigarettes, too!

 

[Dintkin]

E-Mails sent...Thank You All..

 

[kristin]

Keep it up, folks - tell your friends and family in WI - they are keeping it open for co-sponsorship until tomorrow!

I have 2 people who said they can attend a public comment meeting. I will work with anyone to help write up a statement or review/edit one you already have written (when it gets to that point.) If nothing else, we should fill the room with supporters - not all need to speak. But it would be good to have more than 3. The ALA and/or ACS will definitely have a lobbyist there to tell people that e-cigarettes have anti-freeze and carcinogens and and that there is no proof that they are safe or that they help people quit smoking.

Even better, if we can get a meeting with Senator Grothman and other co-sponsors AHEAD of time to give a demonstration of our devices and tell our story again, even better. The one thing that really gets people is experiencing e-cigarettes in person (no smell, no smoke, vapor disappears fast). If you can get a meeting with your district rep and senator in the next few weeks (volunteer to demonstrate one and drop of a CASAA legislative packet on indoor use) that would be ideal. Don't take no for an answer - tell them it's a life or death situation (your's and all of the smokers who haven't tried these yet and would be encouraged to if they can use them indoors.) They say asking 3 times usually works! I will help you any way needed!

 

[kristin]

I just got this email reply!

Thank you for the detailed e-mail. Your experience with e-cigs is very interesting. I will review the bill, Kristin.

Rep. Tom Tiffany

Very nice that it doesn't seem to be a form response.

Anyone else getting any responses??

 

[DC2]

I am so wishing you guys luck in this.
I would just love to see this happen, for the sake of common sense if nothing else.

Maybe CASAA should consider an opposite award from the ....-head award.
If we could find a good name for it, this guy should maybe win it.

 

[LisaC]

You guys are awesome. I'll keep an eye out and help when I can.

 

[JulzW]

I just sent and email to one of my rep's (Pat Strachota) and Emailed Glenn Grothman with a thanks, as he represents my area. I hope it helps.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I just sent and email to one of my rep's (Pat Strachota) and Emailed Glenn Grothman with a thanks, as he represents my area. I hope it helps.

Thanks JulzW. Please consider sending a PM to Kristin with your contact info, and she'll keep you abreast of new developments. There will probably come another time where letters will be helpful (i.e., right before a vote).

Same goes for anyone in Wisconsin.