Comments on: Stogie Commentary: Fighting the Good Fight

By: Stogie Commentary: Go SCHIP Yourself!

Stogie Commentary: Go SCHIP Yourself! — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:34:28 +0000

[...] another reason why the cigar industry needs to get its act together and start doing a better job of fighting these unjust cigar [...]

By: Stogie News: Bush Vetoes Tobacco Tax Bill

Stogie News: Bush Vetoes Tobacco Tax Bill — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:07:29 +0000

[...] That’s why, even though the current tax hikes might not get through, this is a very bad loss for adults who want to be able to enjoy cigars with out paying outrageous taxes on these legal products. Also, as George expressed in his commentary on Monday, the cigar industry should have done a better job on this issue. [...]

By: Ricky

Ricky — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:40:23 +0000

Excellent post! You hit the nail on the head, George.

By: George E

George E — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:24:09 +0000

Thanks, Ricky. I only hope that now, with the bill vetoed and negotiations on the program likely to start again soon, the cigar industry will work to achieve more as the next proposal is worked out.

By: Honduras » Blog Archives » Hoping

Honduras » Blog Archives » Hoping — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:27:10 +0000

[...] Stogie Commentary: Fighting the Good Fight to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras so lawmakers can see the plants, talk to workers [...]

By: George E

George E — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:52:28 +0000

While I’d never underestimate the power of money, it is not the only factor. If it were, the cigarette industry would have been much more successful than it has been over the past 20 years or so, and Wall Street probably would have been able to privatize Social Security. There are many examples of industries that are not giants but exert considerable clout by being highly organized, expert at cultivating support and spending wisely.

By: furious

furious — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:34:36 +0000

It is simply a matter of dollars and cents here. The cigarette industry has the greenbacks and political clout that said dollars can buy. The cigar industry, by comparison, is much smaller and more fragmented, and does not have the funds to buy the lobbyists that help to secure political power and influence. Unfortunately for us lovers of the leaf, we are forced to sit idly by and watch this disgusting charade play out.

By: timothy fitzgerald

timothy fitzgerald — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:32:26 +0000

great commentary a lot or points right on the mark. also think that the manufactures sat back for too long doing nothing. not having a group of them or all of them to fight before this got this far is scary. not having a loobyist to fight for them is insane in todays world.

By: George E

George E — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:22:39 +0000

Patrick S. is exactly right. Counting on a veto is poor, poor strategy. And John, you're correct as well. I wrote as much back in July: Separating cigars from cigarettes is, indeed, essential. But that's not all. You also need to segregate hand-made cigars from machine mades, which are the ones with appeal to young people and which generate much of the negative reaction As I said, the key is for the industry to work constantly and effectively at the front end to prevent massive and onerous proposals from getting written into bills.

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:53:47 +0000

Fred Thompson, Arnold, and some guy named Clinton liked doing certain things with cigars…

Problem is, smoking is too non PC for most politicians to flaunt publicly or assume the role of the aforementioned godfather. And frankly, the number of cigar smokers nationally is such a tiny percentage of the population that even the most organized anti-cigar tax campaign will have minimal effect on politicans. The numbers just aren’t there. The key to surviving the SCHIP legislation is to seperate cigars from cigarettes. The bill was designed to make the cigarette industry pay for the increased entitlement but cigars just got swept along with it. All we need is a cigar exemption.