HOMEABOUT USDONATIONSBLOGNEWSCONTACT USCONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR
Related Media Articles:
October 18, 2007
The House of Representatives voted today to uphold President Bush's veto for the SCHIP bill by a vote of 273-156. This vote was 13 votes shy of approving a bill that would add a $3-$6 tax on individual premium cigars.
October 4, 2007
Governor Kaine has announced in a press release today that he is encouraging congressman from Virginia to change their vote to support SCHIP. Virginia has 5 representatives that orginally said "no" to SCHIP and 1 representative that did not vote. Act now and contact them thanking them for their vote and encourage them to stand firm on their decision to sustain the President's veto.
For a complete voting tally, please click here.
October 3, 2007
President Bush has vetoed the SCHIP Bill that implements a $3.00 tax on premium cigars. The Senate has enough votes to overide the veto; however, the house is lacking 25 key votes.
July 30, 2007
The Senate is scheduled to begin debate today at 3pm on the House's version of the proposed legislation to fund SCHIP. Both chambers have to pass identical versions of this bill in order for it to go to the President.
The President has vowed to veto both the Senate and House versions of this bill.
July 24, 2007
The House of Representatives, Ways and Means Committee, is drafting text of the proposed legislation to fund SCHIP. Their text would increase cigar taxes by 115% from the current rate of 20.7% to 44.6% and raise the cap 1,952% from $0.04875 to $1.00 per cigar.
Please contact Charles Rangel - Committee Chairman, and voice your opposition to this tax! Tell them the following:
July 21, 2007
David Meyer from Milan Tobacco speaks out to ABC News in Roanoke about the Federal Excise Tax:
http://new.wset.com/news/stories/0707/441159.html
July 17, 2007
CAV shops across the state of Virginia have been petitioning against the Other Tobacco Products Excise Tax. The petitions have been submitted to Senator Webb's offices in Roanoke, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Washington D.C. Call your Senator immediately and please pass the message along to all of those who enjoy cigars! Act now as this could move quickly through legislature.
Click here for the recent press release.
July 13, 2007
A recent congressional proposal to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program would increase federal taxes on all Other Tobacco Products by 156% in 2008.
The new rates on Other Tobacco Products would be:
A recent volume analysis have revealed the following effects for the state of Virginia:
For information about this proposal and to find out how you can help, please visit www.nocigtax.com.
April 10, 2007
On Tuesday April 10th, Governor Kaine announced his veto for HB 2422. This completes 2007's legislation with Virginia remaining smoker-friendly!
April 4, 2007
On Wednesday April 4th, the House of Delegates voted 59-40 to reject Governor Kaine's amendments to HB2422! The bill will now go back to Governor Kaine for him to accept or reject Delegate Griffith's bill as he originally proposed it.
March 29,2007
The following associations have joined together with the CAV to fight Governor Kaine's amendments to HB 2422:
Cigar Association of America
Retail Tobacco Dealers Association
VA Hospitality and Travel Association
VA Chamber of Commerce
VA Manufacturers Association
VA Wholesalers and Distributors Association
VA Retail Merchants Association
Retail Merchants Association
RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company
Lorillard Tobacco Company
VA Farm Bureau
Universal Leaf Tobacco Company
VA Agribusiness Council
VA Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association
Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington
The above named members of our Coalition oppose Governor Kaine’s amendments to House Bill 2422, a bill originally patroned by Delegate Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), which will ban smoking in all restaurants, cafeterias, private clubs and any other location licensed by the Virginia Department of Health as a “restaurant.”
The above Coalition members believe that a ban on smoking should be a matter of choice - consumers' choice as to where they want to eat, employees' choice as to where they want to work and business owners' choice whether to allow smoking in their establishments. The current system is working with more and more restaurants across the Commonwealth going “smoke free” every day to respond to changing consumer and employee desires. The current voluntary system allows for flexibility in meeting the demands of customers and employees without hurting the Commonwealth’s hospitality industry.
Governor Kaine’s amendments, however, go far beyond any proposal ever previously considered by the General Assembly, without first being subjected to review, discussion, debate or amendment through the legislative process. Pursuant to the Governor’s amendments, a “restaurant” includes “[a]ny place where food is prepared for service to the public on or off the premises, or any place where food is served. Examples of such places include but are not limited to lunchrooms, short order places, cafeterias, coffee shops, cafes, taverns, delicatessens, dining accommodations of public or private clubs, . . . [and] mobile points of service [e.g., catering services, push cart operations, hotdog stands] . . .” See Virginia Code § 35.1-1. And there is no distinction in the definition between “indoor” and “outdoor” areas of restaurants!
Consequently, if adopted, Governor Kaine’s amendments would:
BAN smoking in private membership social and golf clubs!
BAN smoking in private parties and events, including even weddings, hosted in banquet rooms in hotels, restaurants and private clubs!
BAN smoking in employer-operated cafeterias not open to the general public!
BAN smoking in BOTH indoor and outdoor dining areas of restaurants!
BAN smoking at outdoor fairs, festivals and events where food is prepared and sold!
BAN smoking on sidewalks near street vendors!
BAN smoking at outdoor sporting events and concerts events where food is prepared and sold!
BAN smoking in private hotel rooms that have room service!
If the issue is one of public health, then why is the Governor proposing to ban smoking only in eating establishments and NOT other public places!
PLEASE protect the right of patrons, employees and business owners to choose whether to allow smoking in their establishments and OPPOSE the Governor’s amendments to HB 2422 to ban smoking in all restaurants, cafeterias and private clubs.
March 26, 2007
On Monday March 26th, Governor Kaine publicly announced his amendment to HB2422, which includes an outright BAN on smoking in all Virginia restaurants.
February 26, 2007
On Thursday February 22nd, the Senate passed HB2422 (The Sign Bill) by a vote of 23-17. The passing of this bill without an amendment eliminated the possibility of the bill being sent back to the House of Delegates for Delegate Griffith to kill the bill himself.
This action by the Senate to send HB2422 to Governor Kaine without an amendment clearly complicates the fight due to Governor Kaine recently making public that he plans to make changes to the bill.
February 15, 2007
Although SB1161 was on the docket for the full House General Laws Committee, the Committee did not recognize the bill due to its unanimous defeat in subcommittee, and no call to do so from members of the committee during one of their final meetings for the session.
HB2422, the "sign bill", was approved by a vote of 11-3. Delegate Morgan Griffith has stated previously that if anyone attempts to amend his bill (HB2422) then he would kill it himself.
February 13, 2007
It's back! Due to the sub-committee for the House of Delegates choosing to not vote on SB1161, the House has granted it "procedural life" and has added the bill to the full House General Laws Committee docket for Thursday. We should know more about the outcome of this bill in the next 24-48 hours.
The Senate Education and Health Committee will hear Delegate Morgan Griffith's "sign bill" on Thursday.
Thursday will be an eventful day for anti-smoking legislation. Once again, please contact your legislator and encourage all friends of the cause to do the same. Stay tuned for updates!
February 9th, 2007
Yesterday, SB1161 was heard by sub-committee #3 for the House of Delegates. The bill was not approved to be heard by the full House of Delegates; however, the bill was not killed. This leaves SB1161 still alive with the possibility to be added to another bill as an ammendment.
HB2422, introduced by Delegate Morgan Griffith from Salem and known as the "sign bill", requires public places to post signage stating that smoking is permitted in their establishments. This bill has been assigned to the Senate Education and Health committee. This bill needs to be watched closely as there could be several attempts to revise it to incorporate portions of the anti-smoking bills that were killed in the House of Delegate's sub-committee. Please continue to contact your senators, especially members of the Senate Education and Health committee.
February 8th, 2007
On February 8th, SB1161 has been assigned to sub-committee #3 for the House of Delegates. This bill will be heard todayin Richmond. Once again, it is imperative that we contact members of the sub-committee to make our opinions and rights be heard. This bill was originally expected to be heard during the week of February 15th or February 22th, but has been moved ahead in the schedule.
February 5th, 2007
On February 5th, the senate voted by a count of 23-16 to send Senate Bill No. 1161 to the House of Delegates. Senator Brandon Bell's bill, which is identical to his bill last year and similar to previous house bills filed earlier in the session, restricts the rights for our consumers to enjoy tobacco products such as cigars in all public places. This bill strikes at the heart of private business owners' entrepeunerial rights. This bill restricts business owners' ability to make business decisions.
Most restauranteurs supporting anti-smoking are looking to level the playing field between other successful restaurants by relying on our legislation system to make a decision for them. There is nothing stopping a restaurant from making a decision to become non-smoking, but restaurants supporting anti-smoking bills are trying to eliminate smoker-friendly environments to reduce the competitive advantage from smoker-friendly establishments.
Now is the time for business owners, whether smoking supporters or not, to ban together to protect the rights to make business decisions without the restrictions from legislation. Tobacco is only a start. Next thing you know, fatty food consumption will be controlled followed by alcohol!
Please take the time to contact your legislator sharing your perspective and voicing your opinion about the importance of being able to enjoy tobacco products in establishments that allow them and the importance of business owners to make decisions on their own.
Below are several articles that highlight the negative economic impacts of smoking bans on restaurants sales:
Maryland Sales Tax Data Confirms Smoking Bans Have Hurt Restaurant/Bar Sales: February 22, 2005
Myth Vs. Reality on Smoking Bans
January 25th, 2007
On January 25th, legislators from sub-committees met to vote on whether the proposed anti-smoking bills will be heard by their respective committees. As expected, Senate Bill No. 1161 was approved to be heard by the senate. This is the same bill that was defeated last year when it went to the floor. Of the six house bills filed this year, the only house bill approved to be heard by the full commitee is House Bill No. 2422.
It is imperative that we continue to contact our legislators letting them know how we feel about our right to enjoy cigars and other tobacco products. Please use our Contact Your Legislator page to email your representative. Every voice truly counts!
January 12th, 2007
Recently, the following bills have been filed in an attempt to restrict smoking of premium cigars and other tobacco products within the Commonwealth:
Simplistically speaking, House Bills 2245, 2689, 1952, and 2005 need to be defeated, along with Senate Bill 1161. Each of the above bills from the House of Delegates has been assigned to the House General Laws Committee, and their Sub-Committee #3, which defeated Senator Bell’s legislation last year. Senator Bell’s 2007 legislation has been assigned to the Senate Education & Health Committee, just as last year.
These house bills ban smoking in any public places, including privately owned businesses, restaurants, bars, etc. The Senate version, in the form of Senate Bill 1161, sponsored by Roanoke's Sen. Brandon Bell will be heard later in the session, following action in the Senate. Don't let the government ban smoking and take away your Cigar Dinners!!
It is imperative that you contact the below list of legislators immediately. They will hear and vote next Thursday, January 25 on the House of Delegates proposals to ban smoking in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The members of this subcommittee have control as to whether the aforementioned bills die in committee or move on to the House and Senate to be voted on.