[cooldude]

I think I read that he quit smoking. He wants to regulate everything. I'm sure he'll be too busy to read the laws that he signs. None of them read any of their bs laws that they enact. Just as long as there is plenty of "pork" included in whatever bill it is, he'll be just fine with it.

[cooljay788]

I know this forum has a discussion on this topic already. But I found a new page on Congress proposing banning USPS from delivering tobacco products.

Here's a partial copy of the proposal presented on March 9, 2009. The forum won't allow me to post it in its entirety.

***************

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1400

To amend title 39, United States Code, to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2009

Mr. MCHUGH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To amend title 39, United States Code, to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. NONMAILABILITY OF CERTAIN TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

(a) In General- Chapter 30 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3002a the following:

`Sec. 3002b. Nonmailability of certain tobacco products

`(a) In General- Except as provided in subsections (g) and (h), cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and roll-your-own-tobacco--

`(1) are nonmailable matter;

`(2) shall not be--

`(A) deposited in the mails; or

`(B) carried or delivered through the mails; and

`(3) shall be disposed of as the Postal Service directs.

`(b) Civil Penalty-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Any person who violates subsection (a)(2)(A) shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for each violation.

`(2) HEARINGS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The Postal Service may determine that a person has violated subsection (a)(2)(A) only after notice and an opportunity for a hearing. Proceedings under this paragraph shall be conducted in accordance with section 3001(m).

`(B) PENALTY CONSIDERATIONS- In determining the amount of a civil penalty under this paragraph, the Postal Service shall consider--

`(i) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;

`(ii) with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, ability to pay, and any history of prior violations; and

`(iii) such other matters as justice may require.

[teslahelper]

Originally Posted by cooljay788 I know this forum has a discussion on this topic already. But I found a new page on Congress proposing banning USPS from delivering tobacco products. and (iii) such other matters as justice may require.

There ain't no "justice" in any of that.

This is a few Ignorant and Stupid Stupid politicians destroying jobs and making a hardship for the USPS. Of course, no problem taxing all us smokers more to make up for the financial loss to the Post Office. This is all wrong America! Wake up and read what is being done to us by evil politicians and anti-smokers! It's hideous!

[cooljay788]

Politicians and antis are trying to kill smokers in an indirect way.

First, they raised cig prices year after year. That didn't work. Although the scheduled tax increase might be the last straw for even MYO smokers.

Next, they instituted smoking bans. They thought smoking bans would force tons of smokers to quit. Since nobody would like the idea of smoking in the heat/cold outdoors, or smoke in the rain/snow for that matter. That idea doesn't work even now. Some people still sneak smokes in public restrooms.

Now, they're trying FSCs. FSCs are making thousands of smokers mad.

Now, they hope a tax increase on all tobacco products will make smokers quit. I think it will, although people will still do what it takes to get cigs. Even if it means doing cig robberies (Watch out convience store workers and I ain't joking...several people ain't alone in my prediction).

Now, Congress is hoping by making it illegal to deliver any tobacco, that will make people quit for real.

It might make ME quit if I can't buy cigs online anymore. I ain't paying 9-10 bucks for a pack of Newports offline. I live far away from offline smoke shops that sell MYO materials...this ain't an option for me either.

[cooljay788]

I can't forget FL and WV both proposing making unemployed people take drug tests...which likely includes testing the folks for nicotine (as some jobs test for nicotine on their own drug tests).

So if you smoke, you can't get state aid in FL or WV. Being told I can't get unemployment checks because I smoke tobacco would be the worst discrimination against smokers I ever heard of! FL and WV wanna turn smokers into homeless people and/or criminals (if the proposal passes in both states).

I ain't making this up. I read an actual article from a West Virginia newspaper on this topic. I believe I posted the article in my prossmoker.net blog.

[cooljay788]

Here's an update on this topic, although this bill has no mention of banning USPS from delivering cigs. Politicians, however, want ALL online smoke shops to report customers' orders. AND customers can only order a max of 10 pounds (10 cartons) of cigs each time online or over the phone.

*************************************
House Panel Approves Bill to Deter Illegal Sales and Smuggling of Tobacco

A House panel approved legislation Tuesday aimed at combating illegal Internet cigarette sales and the smuggling of tobacco.

The House Judiciary Committee by voice vote approved a bill that would require tobacco sellers to verify the age of buyers who purchase products online or over the phone, and would require sellers to keep delivery sales records.

The bill also would require sellers of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to include notices about excise tax requirements and would bar shipments of cigarette or smokeless tobacco that weigh more than 10 pounds.

Sellers who violate the new rules could face up to three years in prison or civil penalties of up to 2 percent of their gross sales for the year before the violation.

As states have increased their tobacco taxes, smugglers have taken to selling tobacco products on the Internet to avoid paying local taxes, said Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-N.Y., the bill’s sponsor.

The illegal sales have affected state revenue, according to ranking Republican Lamar Smith of Texas. In California, state officials estimate that purchasers do not pay taxes on as much as 15 percent of all tobacco sold.

Before approving the measure, the panel adopted by voice vote a Howard Coble , R-N.C., amendment that would make an exception for tobacco mailings intended for consumer testing by manufacturers.

The panel also adopted by voice vote a Robert W. Goodlatte , R-Va., amendment that would express the sense of Congress that the measure does not set a precedent regarding states’ ability to collect sales tax on out-of-state entities.

[bobbyT]

yup, if they do this, then they are truly throwing the constitution out of the window, and they will mercilessly, and unfairly, just continuously increase the tax on us smokers, who, i'll remind everybody, still constitute 22% of all of Americans...22%! Just taking it straight up the ol' bunghole at the hands of fiscally irresponsible, elected shmucks that have been asleep at the wheel for the last 10 years while all the crooks out there have stolen our retirement accounts. We need a major overhaul. they want to do a cap and trade on the carbon credits and pollution side of things..ok, well, let's discuss this radical idea, earmark tax dollars for things specific to those persons being taxed, or at least, apportion a large piece of it, b/c at the end of the day, this country was founded largely on the back of "no taxation without representation", and when you tax 22% of the folks, indiscriminately, on a LEGAL product, and do nothing whatsoever aside from persecuting them anywhere they would choose to congregate, that sort of sounds like the beginnings of an Orwellian 1984 scenario, and that my friends, is not a world i think any of us want to find ourselves living in, so get active in your local communities, use your power to write, email, phone, participate, and get your views represented b/c these guys in congress are just making stuff up as they go along.

[cooljay788]

An Update on this topic.
*******************************

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday approved tougher enforcement measures against contraband cigarette sales that make money for criminals, but cost federal, state and local governments billions of dollars.

The bill, which passed 397-11, is especially aimed at Internet sales. Sellers on the Internet and others shipping to remote locations would have to verify the purchaser's age and identity through accessible databases.

Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products could no longer be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service except in limited cases. Private delivery companies already have agreed not to ship tobacco products while the Postal Service continues to deliver products purchased over the Internet.

Misdemeanors under current law would be made felonies, and it would be a federal offense for any seller failing to pay state tax laws.

The legislation would empower each state to enforce federal law against out-of-state sellers sending delivery sales into the state.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would gain authority to inspect distributors of cigarettes, and anyone refusing the inspection would be penalized.

Chief sponsor Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., said that as tobacco taxes have increased, "We have unwittingly created a large and growing black market for smuggled tobacco products."

Weiner cited a Government Accountability Office report that organizations including Hezbollah made money through the tobacco black market.

The Senate yet to consider the measure.

[Hoot Owl]

Can shipment be made by UPS or FEDEX rather than USPS?