Wednesday, January 23, 2008
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From a press release:
January 23, 2008- The U.S. House of Representatives again failed leadership again failed to win over enough Republicans to override President Bush's veto of a children's health insurance bill Wednesday.
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR)
Chris McCalla
Legislative Director
From a press release:
Veto Override Expected to Fail
January 23, 2008 - The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today in an attempt to override President Bush's third veto of the now controversial State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The president has previously vetoed two other SCHIP proposals. Popular consensus remains that today's congressional attempt to override the president will again fail, for a third time.
Last month, President Bush did sign into law a bill extending the current SCHIP program until March 31, 2009.
Once the final vote is available, an update will be sent to all IPCPR members. I encourage you to share this news with your customers, family, and friends.
The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers is a not-for-profit trade association organized as the advocate for the independent retail tobacconist and recognized as the "Voice of Authority and Reason" on premium tobacco related issues.
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR)
Chris McCalla
Legislative Director
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
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From a press release:
Current SCHIP Program to be Extended to 2009
Veto Override Attempt of Current SCHIP Legislation Unlikely
As you know, the President vetoed the current SCHIP legislation on December 12. The House leadership has scheduled a vote for January 23 to attempt to override that veto. It appears that the House will not be able to muster the 2/3 vote necessary to override the veto.
Late last week there was talk regarding a short term extension of the current SCHIP program through March 31, 2008. However, on December 17, negotiators agreed to extend the current SCHIP program through March 31, 2009 with a small increase in funding necessary for the states to maintain their current enrollment through that date. There will be no increase in tobacco taxes to fund that modest increase.
While it is always possible that Democrats will introduce another SCHIP bill in 2008 to force Republicans to vote on the issue, it now appears likely that the issue will be pushed into 2009.
The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers is a not-for-profit trade association organized as the advocate for the independent retail tobacconist and recognized as the "Voice of Authority and Reason" on premium tobacco related issues.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
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Thanks to all you active cigar and pipe smokers that helped uphold the President's veto of SCHIP. You input has helped however now is not the time to rest on our laurels.
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. In an attempt 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 and pipe tobacco, will remain in the legislation.
While 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.
So we urge you to please keep the pressure un your representatives to not vote for programs that unfairly target those of us who enjoy partaking in a legal activity.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
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News from the IPCPR:
Legislation Proposed Excessive Tax on Cigars
October 18, 2007- Finally, this critical vote failed to pass the House of Representatives in a floor vote today. The final vote was 273-156, short of the necessary two-thirds majority (of present voting members) needed.
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your perseverance, tenacity, vigilance, and persistence in contacting your U.S. congressmen and congresswomen, and your senators through
phone calls, emails, faxes, and personal visits to their district and Capital Hill offices. Without your support and direct action we simply would not have made the noise we did in Congress, gaining the attention of influential members that now understand our niche community-industry cannot absorb a massive tax increase and continue to exist.
This is only the first round in what will most likely be a continuing battle for the next several months. As SCHIP expansion and extension of the current program will be sought by congressional democrats. We have already begun communicating and working with congressional leaders and their states, taking the position that if a tax increase in cigars must exist, that a realistic, manageable increase must be a part of the overall proposal.
A special thank you goes out to the manufacturers within our industry for their efforts throughout the United States and Latin America in mobilizing support against this tax increase. Through their coordinated efforts between the Latin American governments, and their counterparts in the United States, they illustrated and successfully conveyed the ramifications of this tax increase on the Latin American citizens and artisans who rely on the handmade cigar industry for a viable, living income. Key legislators now understand it is more than just a pleasure for consumers, but a way of life for those artisans who produced handmade cigars. Because of the handmade cigar industry, many of these citizens would not have reasonable access to medical and dental care, education, and other social services provided by manufacturers based in these small countries.
Thank you again for your efforts and direct action, for if we are to succeed, we must all hang together, or we will hang separately.
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR)
Chris McCalla
Legislative Director
Monday, October 08, 2007
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Looking for bullet points or help to craft a message to your local senator/congressman to UPHOLD the SCHIPs veto.
Going to http://capwiz.com/rtda/issues/alert/?alertid=10386901 and inputting your zip code will not only give you a list of representatives near you, but it will also give you bullet points appropriate to how the legislator had previously voted.
The time to act is now so don't wait. We think you'll find this tool from the IPCPR will assist you in knocking this down. SCHIP supporters are gearing up with a multi-million dollar TV campaign to get the uninformed electorate to pressure legislators who voted against the bill to change their minds and override the veto because "it's for the children".
We know that YOU know you need to contact your representatives about upholding the veto on the expansion of SCHIPs program by putting the tax burden on our backs.
Perhaps you have friends who are having a hard time getting past the "it's for the children"... Send them links to our video playlists to hear the truth about this tax and what it is really about!
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A52E341856944523
Share the link and this message far and wide!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
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ACTION ALERT!
Call and Urge Your U.S. Representative
To Sustain President Bush’s Veto
Of the SCHIP Bill!
On October 3rd, President Bush Vetoed the SCHIP Bill
With Excessive Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Increases
The Democrat Leadership in the U.S. House has Scheduled
A Vote to Try and Override the Veto on October 18th
You Need To Call Their U.S. Representative Now and Urge Them to
Sustain the President’s Veto of the SCHIP Bill!
__________________________________
Call Either of the Following Toll-Free Numbers to Be Directly Connected with Your U.S. Representative’s Office:
1-877-857-8074 or 1-866-527-4494
CALLS ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT
THESE UNFAIR TAX INCREASES ARE
NOT ENACTED INTO LAW
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
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President Bush Vetoes SCHIP Legislation
This morning, President Bush vetoed H.R. 976, the bill passed by Congress to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). In a press conference this morning, the President’s Press Secretary stated that the administration will work with Congress to ensure the neediest children are receiving health insurance coverage. In particular, the administration is focusing on children in families that have annual income of less than $41,300 which is 200% of the 2007 poverty level for a family of four. The President has always taken the position that he will expand the SCHIP program by $5 billion without raising taxes which constitutes a 20% increase in current spending on the program.
The leadership of the U.S. House has scheduled a vote to attempt to override the President’s veto for Wednesday, October 17th. Please recall that the U.S. House voted 265 to 159 in favor of the final SCHIP bill which is 25 votes short of the 290 needed to override a presidential veto.
Call Your Representatives and Urge Them to Sustain the Veto
Don't rest on our laurels. You are strongly urged to call your U.S. Representatives and urge them to vote to sustain the President’s veto. One of the easiest ways to make this call is to dial one of the following two toll-free telephone numbers and you will be directly connected with your U.S. Representative’s office in order to leave your message with a staff person:
1-877-857-8074 or 1-866-527-4494
Representatives that voted against the SCHIP bill will be under a great deal of pressure to vote to override the President’s veto and they need support from you and your customers to sustain the President’s veto!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
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From the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR)
Federal Legislative Update
Compromise Bill Moves Forward for Vote
Cigar Floor Stocks Tax Provision Removed
September 25, 2007-
A compromise bill for the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funding was finalized late in the evening on Monday, September 24 with mixed news for the premium cigar and pipe industry. The Floor Stocks Tax provision on cigars that was originally in the legislation has been stricken. THERE IS NO FLOOR STOCKS TAX IN THE LEGISLATION!
However, the tax rate was reduced by only a fraction, from 53.12% to 52.988%, and the tax cap of $3 per cigar remains.
The compromised bill now goes to both the House of Representatives and the Senate for an up-or-down vote (members of Congress must vote either yes or no and no further amendments or changes may be added or made at this time.
Once the bill is most likely approved by both chambers of Congress, the legislation goes to the White House where President Bush remains adamant that he will veto the legislation. Following a presidential veto, Congress will most likely approve an extension of the current SCHIP program that expires September 30, relying on existing government healthcare money to fund the extension-the yet-to-be proposed extension will not rely on any tax increases. This extension will give Congress more time to create a bill that the president may be willing to sign.
Many have been involved in this fight, and we will continue working to protect members of our Association, notably Rocky Patel, Jeff Borysiewicz, a retailer from Corona Cigar, in Florida, David Berkebile, your association former president Lito Gomez of La Flor Dominicana, Marvin Samel of Drew Estate, Robert Levin of Ashton/Holt Distributors, Eric Newman of J.C. Newman, Alejandro Cuenca of Hoya de Nicaragua, and Jorge Padron. Due to the incredible efforts of these people the unfair treatment of the cigar industry was clearly brought to Congress' attention. Full, deserved credit goes to this group.
Though the comprise bill is far from what we need to protect our industry we have laid the groundwork for what may come at a later date regarding SCHIP funding relying on increased cigar taxes. We now have the tools in place to work toward a reasonable compromise on a livable tax.
IPCPR's federal lobbyists, Patton Boggs and Public Strategies-Washington, two premier lobby groups on Capitol Hill, and the Cigar Association of America have also been instrumental in this fight. Additionally, the manufacturing countries' governments are fully engaged through their embassies and continue lobbying their Washington, D.C. counterparts on the ramifications of this draconian tax increase, working toward our shared goals.
Thank you to all of you, our members, and your customers for the countless phone calls, emails, and faxes sent to your Congressmen and Senators. Congress now understands that the premium cigar and pipe industry will not stand idly by as they may have their way with our livelihoods and our industry. When this bill is vetoed, we look forward to working closely with Congress on a new bill that provides necessary healthcare funding for children while not driving an entire industry into extinction.
We will continue to keep you posted as this situation continues its legislative process.
Chris McCalla
Legislative Director