SCHIP is NOT dead. Celebration over, we need to continue the fight!

[Admin]

Congress begins Round Two on SCHIP Proposal
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OGEryd3a06EFxJ59ja3Ls3Fa_KEw4-hrNp0l39xkB7oCYI3FXsRwy1_EwfPFYXBlJREEBAzMdEwbrHL1k0s-VVy8f1PLjhQnQSNdfyS3b74

http://www.ipcpr.org/schipveto.pdf
 
Industry continues to work for compromised tax provision
 
October 25, 2007
 
Congressional Democrats are currently working on legislation to reintroduce the
SCHIP legislation. This proposed legislation will be nearly identical to the
previously failed proposal, HR976. Attempting to appease moderate Republicans,
only minor revisions have been made to the eligibility requirements. The tobacco
tax proposals, including the excessive taxation on handmade cigars, will remain
in the legislation.
 
IPCPR's federal lobbyists feel that with no substantial changes to this second
SCHIP proposal, the president will again veto the legislation (if and when it
passes both the House of Representatives and the Senate), and the veto will
withstand a second attempt at an override by the House-not enough moderate
Republicans will not be swayed to vote in favor of an override due to such
minimal changes.
 
Progress has been made in demonstrating on Capitol Hill that the current
proposal will prove detrimental to our industry and we continue working for a
compromise.
 
As this is a sensitive issue, when the timing is appropriate, IPCPR will
initiate a new Federal Action Alert through the Legislative Action Center.
 
Chris McCalla
Legislative Director

[Bungalowbill]

the republicans should offer up a competing bill, called the "let's all punch nancy pelosi in the face" bill. stalemate!

[Skipper the cigar aFISHinodo]

the republicans should offer up a competing bill, called the "let's all punch nancy pelosi in the face" bill. stalemate!

write it up BB, I'll passit on to my representatives.

[Admin]

NOT GOOD.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/25/schip.vote/index.html

Passed the house...  and the old plan passed the Senate before, so what are the odds this will pass the Senate?

[macallan2]

NOT GOOD.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/25/schip.vote/index.html

Passed the house...  and the old plan passed the Senate before, so what are the odds this will pass the Senate?

President's already said he's going to veto this as well and then I'd expect it to fall back on party lines with the veto being upheld when they try to push it through.  I really wish they'd put a little money/effort into educating people on the facts of why he's vetoing this thing.  I don't even like the man and it pisses me off that they're labeling him as someone who hates the children.:X

[Admin]

I found one decent article on the net, but it from a very small news company:
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200710/NAT20071018a.html


I just bitched CNN.com out for never mentioning the full details of the funding of the SCHIP program.   They constantly say there is a 61 cent price increase on cigarettes but nothing about the fact that our cigars will have 52% more tax which will add $3 in taxes to a single cigar.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?9

While I don't like any tax, 61 cents on a pack is pretty much in line of all the other tax increases on cigarettes.   CNN makes it sound like that is the only thing being taxed and never mention the impact to the cigar industry or other tobacco products where people will REALLY notice the additional tax.

It might be a waste of time, but how about a few minutes of your time to voice a comment to CNN about it.   If they are going to report the news, then dammit they should report the whole story.   Click the link above and complain.   Maybe if they get 30 or so complaints on an article they may take note of our concerns.

Post below if you made a comment to CNN.  

[Not A Nice Person]

You know, I sent my damn congressman, Solomon Ortiz, two faxes and an email against this stupid thing, pointing out the ridiculousness (and unfairness, and fiscal stupidity) of financing the program off the backs of cigar smokers, and the damn bastige sent me a form letter assuring me of his support for ScHIP.

Idiot. Bastige. Smacktard. [curse]

NANP™
[cigar]

[Admin]

You know, I sent my damn congressman, Solomon Ortiz, two faxes and an email against this stupid thing, pointing out the ridiculousness (and unfairness, and fiscal stupidity) of financing the program off the backs of cigar smokers, and the damn bastige sent me a form letter assuring me of his support for ScHIP.

Idiot. Bastige. Smacktard. [curse]

NANP™
[cigar]

Goes to show that they don't even read our emails or faxes.   Some worker gets the message and just sends the same generic letter to everyone in reponse to it.

The only two things that drive a politician are money and publicity.  None of us have enough money to make any difference.   I feel the news media would definately react to getting a few thousand emails, letters and faxes in complaint to the SCHIP program and bad representation by our elected officials.   That WOULD get some attention.   However, its going to take a whole ton of people to get noticed.

CNN is not going to close their email, nor turn off their faxes.  People are sending them news all the time, so they will eventually respond with a story.    Forget the Boston Tea Party, I'm getting ready for war!