Illinois
It's not perfect, but House Bill 1965 was passed by the Illinois General Assembly, on a vote of 62-52, and is now off to the Senate. The bill would allow for smoking again in Illinois casinos, with the caveat that it would only be in effect if adjoining states also did not ban smoking.
It will be carried by Senator Martin Sandoval and Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne, Jr. signed on as a patron of the legislation.
House Bill 1310 sponsored by Representative Anthony DeLuca, D-Cook County , and Representative Randy Ramey, R-DuPage County , remains alive, and deserves support.
This legislation would allow for the issuing of a ‘smoking license' if certain criteria are met, such as: employee acknowledgment, establishment already holds a valid liquor license, and notable public signage. We commend Representatives DeLuca and Ramey for their leadership on this issue.
Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois Senate
Rep. Daniel Burke - http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1587
Rep. Robert Rita - http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1673
Rep. Rita Mayfield - http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1761
Washington
The State of Washington Still Needs Our Help!
Positive Legislation has been Introduced to Restore some Cigar Freedom. The motto for the State of Washington is a Chinook Indian word Alki, which means "Hope for the Future."
Based upon the introduction of House Bill 1683 by nine members of the House of Representatives, and Senate Bill 5542 by seven members of the Washington State Senate, there could indeed, be "hope for the future" - at least in terms of enjoying a cigar.
CRA joins the Cigar Association of Washington and IPCPR in supporting this legislation. We also believe it could be a model for other states that have stringent anti-smoking laws.
The legislation calls for upgraded and distinct ventilation, a fee structure that would prevent wide spread awarding of a limited number of licenses, is for cigars only, employee waiver language, signage requirements, and an age 18 restriction. In other words, it's a well thought out piece of legislation. So naturally, the state and local Health Departments are fighting it. We need to do our part.
The Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection referred the bill to the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and the House Committee on Business & Financial Services recently advanced the bill (on a 10-3 vote) also referring the legislation to the House Committee on Ways & Means.
Voice your support to these respective committees for HB 1683 and SB 5542!
Washington House of Representatives
Washington Senate
Minnesota
Progress is still alive in Minnesota where a great coalition of Representatives and Senators has come together for new exemptions to the state smoking ban law, through House legislation 0188 and Senate bill 0168. Representatives Tom Hackbarth, Larry Howes, Tom Rukavina, Bruce Anderson, and Mark Buesgens, have joined forces with Senators Michael Jungbauer, Sean Nienow, Chris Gerlach, Linda Scheid, and Ray Vandeveer to sponsor this legislation. Minnesota has a strong base of CRA members, and the legislature needs to hear from you. Contact your member of the House and Senate TODAY! Here's how to find them:
Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota Senate
South Carolina
While local governments keep tinkering with smoking bans in South Carolina, there has been an appreciation for freedom at the statewide level. We all want it to stay that way. However, House members Todd Rutherford, Lonnie Hosey and Joe McEachern want to take that away. They have each filed identical bills in the form of HB 3033, 3022, and 3015. The bills are in the House Judiciary Committee, and we hope they will be defeated there. Contact your member of the South Carolina legislature, and tell them "No Statewide Smoking Ban in SC!"
South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina Senate
Indiana
Indiana House member Charlie Brown is at it again with HB 1018. Although this House version has been greatly amended, it still needs to be defeated. The companion Senate version (SB 355) doesn't seem to have traction in the Senate Committee on Public Policy, but we can take nothing for granted. Contact your member of the Indiana House (and especially Senate) and ask them to vote AGAINST HB 1018 (and SB 355 if it is revived) and KEEP A STATEWIDE SMOKING BAN OUT OF INDIANA!
Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana Senate
Florida
We previously alerted our vast Florida membership to the legislation introduced by Naples Representative Kathleen Passidomo (HB 211). Now, new Florida state Senator Alan Hayes, R-Umatilla, has introduced a companion bill in the form of SB 1070. This would allow local governments to supercede state law with regard to banning outdoor smoking. This type of back door legislating of smoking regulations needs to stop. Please sign the current CRA on-line petition, and let your member of the Florida legislature know, KEEP FLORIDA LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OUT OF THE SMOKING BAN BUSINESS.
Florida House of Representatives
Florida Senate
Kentucky
Kentucky State Representative Susan Westrom, D-Lexington has filed HB 193, along with eight other patrons that calls for a statewide smoking ban in Kentucky , with no exemptions of any type. Whereas these matters have a way of taking on a life of their own, and all should be taken seriously, we believe that our Kentucky membership should contact their Representative and Senator, and tell them to defeat HB 193. Here's how to contact them - http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Legislators.htm
Additionally, eleven members of the Kentucky House of Representatives have sponsored HB 318. The bill aims to increase the tax rate on OTP (cigars) from 15 percent to 27.5 percent, an overall increase of 83.3 percent!
The bill is in the 2011 Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.
Our growing Kentucky membership needs to contact its member of the Kentucky House and Senate. Here's the listing to find your member:
Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky Senate
Connecticut
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proposed over $1.5 billion in new taxes for the citizens and businesses of Connecticut.
Nothing is left untouched. He wants to tax yoga sessions, haircuts, pet grooming, car washes, much less raise the sales tax. Oh, and for good measure, he throws in new taxes on plastic surgery and boating support services (obviously an important industry to the state); toss in increased taxes on beer, gas, hotel rooms, rental cars, as well as a new slate of "luxury taxes." And then, there is tobacco.
He wants to raise the tax on cigars from 27.5% to 50% of the wholesale price.
This bill is being heard in the joint Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
Send them a message.
1) They will send Connecticut tax revenue to lower cost alternatives, such as surrounding states and the Internet.
2) They will irreparably harm Connecticut small businesses, with lost jobs, and closed shops.
3) This type of regressive taxation results in the same budget hole they began with, and an expanded black market for illegal products.
This, indeed, is one of the worst pieces of tax legislation in the nation.
Cigar Rights of America stands with such groups as the 10,000 member Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Connecticut Package Stores Association, the Distilled Spirits Council, and the Connecticut Retail Merchant's Association in opposition to this package from Governor Malloy.
More so, however, we stand with the Great American Cigar Shops™ of Connecticut.
CRA's growing Connecticut membership needs to voice its opposition to this regressive piece of legislation.
A Wall Street Journal editorial has noted the “point of no return,” for such tax increases. The message: In fact the state will not collect as much revenue, sales will be driven to lower cost border-states and sources, the legislature will fuel the black market, and they will have the same budget hole with which they began. Call them TODAY!
FIND YOUR MEMBER OF THE CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE
Read more about the comprehensive nature of this tax package, and how legislators and concerned groups view this package here.
Read the Governor's Complete Tax Increase Package here.
Additionaly, Representative Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin has introduced H.B. 5286 in the Connecticut legislature that would also ban smoking in private clubs. He said “to insure the public is protected.”
Maine
Representative Anna Blodgett, D-Augusta wants to ban smoking in one of the last refuges for freedom in Maine. Her legislation would ban smoking in private clubs. That's right, “private” clubs.
Also in Maine , legislation has been filed by Representative Les Fossel, R-Alna to raise the legal age to “possess” tobacco, from 18 to 21.
Oklahoma
A different type of threat looms for cigar enthusiasts in Oklahoma. House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee is sponsoring legislation, supported by the Tobacco Free Coalition and the Oklahoma Municipal League, which would allow for local control over tobacco policy and restrictions. This would hence allow localities across Oklahoma to adopt more stringent controls than exist at the state level. It must be defeated.
Send a message to your member:
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma State Legislature
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