Wrote to Senator Bill Nelson

[orlampagal]

Ok so I wrote to one of my senators regarding "not" giving the FDA unilateral control over the ecig due to it not being "tobacco" and here was the office response

Dear Ms. ****:

Thank you for contacting me regarding tobacco regulation.

I support giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products. Medical science continually reveals new research magnifying the harmful effects of tobacco. While I understand your concerns that FDA regulations may make it more difficult to operate a business that sells tobacco, I believe that giving the FDA this authority will, in the long run, reduce health care costs and benefit all Americans.

The link between cancer and tobacco has been well publicized, but smoking is also a risk factor for the development of countless other diseases. The costs society bears to treat these illnesses are staggering especially when you consider the countless resources allocated to battle often-preventable diseases.

I appreciate the time you've taken to inform me of your views. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,
Senator Bill Nelson

P.S. From time to time, I compile electronic news briefs highlighting key issues and hot topics of particular importance to Floridians. If you'd like to receive these e-briefs, visit my Web site and sign up for them at Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator from Florida: eBriefs




He still doesn't get it.... now what?

Lisa

 

[Ivisi]

Yeah, I got the same letter. I've since been emailing Gene Schlesinger (gene_schlesinger@billnelson.senate.gov) in his office with anything and everything I come across to support our cause. So far, no response from him, and as far as I know he's probably made an Outlook rule to forward my stuff to Deleted Items, but I'm still hammering him with info.

Ivisi

 

[Vapor Pete]

Yeah. He still doesnt get it because some office idiot read it, put it in a pile titled "Against The Tobacco Bill Letters"... and shot you back the form letter you received.

Im betting that if you sent a letter specific to e-cigs, like me, you would get no reply. Seems like they dont have a pile titled "E-cig advocate Letters" yet.

My best,
-VP

 

[Vicks Vap-oh-Yeah]

This has a "form letter" feel to it - generated by an aide or page simply to give a "response" to a constituient. It's a numbers game - the first, polite and vague response, is enough to dissuade most constituients from pushing harder.

I'd send a rebuttal to his reply - thanking him for his time and then launching into a "but you got my views wrong," style, which might get some attention. Keep at him.

Also - Does his website give you the option to leave your opinion? I'd go there, too, and see if you could make more noise electronically.

 

[NY JETS]

Want a personalized response from a US Senator? Include a check for $30,000 in the envelope.

 

[mamacat]

This has a "form letter" feel to it - generated by an aide or page simply to give a "response" to a constituient. It's a numbers game - the first, polite and vague response, is enough to dissuade most constituients from pushing harder.

I'd send a rebuttal to his reply - thanking him for his time and then launching into a "but you got my views wrong," style, which might get some attention. Keep at him.

Also - Does his website give you the option to leave your opinion? I'd go there, too, and see if you could make more noise electronically.

Vicks ~ That is a great idea. If I receive a form letter like this in the future, I will take your advice.

Want a personalized response from a US Senator? Include a check for $30,000 in the envelope.

Ain't that the truth.......

 

[TropicalBob]

Nelson is my senator, as well, and he's a bright and savvy guy. I've talked with him and covered his town hall meetings as a reporter.

I think many here fail to see the reality facing senators. The FDA bill was flawed (but most bills are in one way or another, thanks to self-serving "amendments" tacked on). It was, however, the best Congress could muster in 10 years of trying to control the biggest corporate liars and murderers in America.

Finally, they had a chance. This time, they knew they had the vote to make law.

But e-smokers wrote in protest. Are elected representatives to vote against a bill that will step forward a decrease in tobacco use .. just to keep e-smokers happy? We are a fractional minority! Any change to the bill -- any "protective" amendment -- would have threatened the core bill so many worked on for so long.

No, they would not do that. And the bill passed, easily.

The next step is to write your representatives to support harm reduction in subsequent bills addressing tobacco. Rep. Steve Buyer was passionate and logical this morning in saying harm reduction must be made a part of future legislation. Think ahead now about how to get smokers off cigarettes and onto a safer form of nicotine use. Buyer and Burr spoke logic, but for the wrong bill, at the wrong time. This bill was, as one representative said this morning in the House, a "slam dunk" this time around.

Nelson will have a chance to support a harm reduction bill some day. Make sure he knows it is sorely needed. I'll do the same when I run into him again.