 Democrats promise to try harder, but will cigars get a break?
Los Angeles, October 19 – Cigar smokers, retailers, manufacturers and distributors can breathe a little easier today as the U.S. House of Representatives failed to override President George W. Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program bill (H.R. 976) yesterday.
The vote was fairly close to the 288 votes needed, as the final tally was 273 in favor and 156 against.
International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailer Association legislative director Chris McCalla sent a note to the trade stating “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.”
The Associated Press noted that the program has funding through November 16 at its current level of $5 billion per year. Democrats and a minority of Republicans want to add an additional $7 billion per year – funded in the current bill solely by taxes on tobacco products – and the program can be extended through a series of short-term extensions.
President Bush has designated Health & Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, economic advisor Al Hubbard and budget director Jim Nussle to work with the Congress on the issue. Bush has indicated he would be willing to extend funding for coverage of an additional 500,000 children beyond the 6.6 million already enrolled, but Democrats want an additional 3.4 million children coverage for a total of 10 million.
The politics are already nasty, will get nastier and cigars and other tobacco products are in the middle.
Ohio cigar bars may be “taking last gasp”:
The next time someone tells you that smoking bans don’t hurt business, you may wish to tell them about downtown Cincinnati.
Jon Craig of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that “Ohio's new public smoking ban is killing business for two Cincinnati-area cigar bars, their owners testified Wednesday.
“Sales are down at least 60 percent since the state began enforcing the anti-smoking law in May at Havana Martini Club, 441 Vine St., downtown, and Anthony's Cigar Bar & Grille, 7641 Voice of America Center Drive, West Chester, the owners said.
“They appeared before the Senate Health Committee about legislation proposed by Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, to amend the new law and allow smoking in about 20 cigar bars across Ohio.”
Under the Ohio smoking ban, passed by voters last year, smoking is still allowed “in private clubs, designated areas of nursing homes, hotels and tobacco stores if 80 percent of their sales are cigars, cigarettes and other smoking products.”
Senate Bill 195 would allow smoking in cigar bars like Havana Martini and Anthony’s because they also serve food and alcoholic beverages, lowering their smoking products percentage of revenue below the 80 percent figure.
And the impact isn’t limited to these two establishments. According to the story, “Last week, Federal Reserve, a smaller piano bar, closed to move to Newport, [Havana Martini managing partner Sandy] Meyer told the Senate committee. ‘Was this move related to smoking? We have seen our patrons take a shuttle bus for $1 to Newport. ... Without clubs like Havana, downtown is dark after 11 p.m.’”
Will an SEC football tradition go up in smoke?
There are plenty of strange things that go in football and especially around the Alabama-Tennessee game each fall, to be held in Tuscaloosa this Saturday.
According to Justin Graves, writing in the Cullman (Al.) Times, “In the past, Alabama players have talked about coaches blasting Tennessee’s fight song, ‘Rocky Top,’ non stop throughout the practice week. Other players have talked about facing scout teams wearing nothing but Vols’ orange all week in practice. Some former players have even talked about being fed food that had been turned orange.
“But even though bizarre motivational tactics have been used at Alabama in the past, there won’t be anything like that taking place this week in Tuscaloosa. Or at least that’s what first-year head coach Nick Saban is saying.
“According to Saban, he has never seen any proof that tactics like that are effective. And without proof, Saban isn’t biting. . . .
“Since Saban doesn’t plan on participating in any of the Alabama-Tennessee practice-week traditions, does that mean the Tide coach isn’t going to smoke a cigar with the players if his team wins Saturday?
“Only Saban knows the answer to that question. But if the Alabama coach chooses not to take part in one of Alabama’s most well known traditions, he won’t be alone.
“‘Nah, I’m not going to smoke a cigar if we win,’ running back Terry Grant said. ‘I don’t smoke.’”
Not to worry. If the 21st-ranked Vols win, there will be plenty of orange-clad fans who will cover for him.
~ Rich Perelman
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
