[Chief Smoker]

Here's an article I found interesting, living in VA - what's everyone else think about this? UNFAIR?

Higher Levies Sought To Curb Popularity

Now a move is under way by public health advocates to push back against cigar usage by taxing some cigars like cigarettes.

Since 1990, the per capita consumption of cigars (defined by the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as any roll of tobacco wrapped in tobacco leaf or a substance containing tobacco) has more than doubled, according to the Cigar Association of America, a trade organization. That includes large, premium, hand-rolled brands and mass-market, machine-rolled cigars that vary in size, such as Swisher Sweet cigarillos, White Owls blunts and Black & Mild filter-tip cigars. Data suggest the consumption of "little cigars" such as Winchesters -- which resemble cigarettes in almost every way but color -- jumped 154 percent between 1998 and 2006, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington-based nonprofit.

Part of the reason is cost. Federal excise taxes amount to 39 cents on a pack of 20 cigarettes, while cigars are taxed at a maximum of five cents each . . .

"Any time there's an issue of flavorings, it's always assumed to be a marketing at kids. I don't buy that," Norman Sharp, president of the Cigar Association, said. "The fact is, flavorings go back to the 1500s."

[cooldude]

This is the group that tells our very gullible and ignorant politicians HUGE FALSEHOODS about online deliveries of tobacco products and who can get them. How many kids are they saying are hooked on smoking cigars now because of online cigar shops???

The politicians smoke a lot of cigars plus they love steady tax monies they get from them. These same politicians will be scratching their heads if HR5912 passes because then, they won't be able to get their fancy Cohibas delivered no more!

[teslahelper]

I communicated through Snail mail with my congressman a couple years ago when I was complaining about the NY politicians getting the credit card companies to stop taking tobacco order charges and stopping UPS from delivering. I had mentioned cigarettes and cigars. The reply from the politician assured me cigars would be given the highest consideration but, made no mention about other tobacco products like cigarettes. Seemed like he was interested in keeping online cigar sales and getting rid of just the other tobacco products.

[fullflava]

that's because Congress and the Supreme COurt are the only two federal buildings left where you can smoke cigarettes and cigars!

[barfly]

Originally Posted by cooldude The politicians smoke a lot of cigars plus they love steady tax monies they get from them. These same politicians will be scratching their heads if HR5912 passes because then, they won't be able to get their fancy Cohibas delivered no more!

Yeah right, or else they'll just make it so nobody else except themselves can get tobacco products delivered by the Postal Service. Sort of like that "Franking" postage system they have set up for themselves. If they want to send anything in the US Mail, all they have to do is put their congressional "Signature" in the space where a postage stamp would normally go, and the item is delivered for FREE. You and me gots to pay postage for that. So, they will outlaw tobacco deliveries to you and me with HR5912 and then use Franking to get tobacco to themselves through the postal system. Sucks!