FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM TO ENJOY FINE CIGARS

    "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"
    "Land of the Free"
    "No Taxation Without Representation"

These are the principles on which America was founded. Unfortunately for cigar enthusiasts, the age-old pleasure of enjoying a cigar is under attack. On a daily basis, your freedom to enjoy a cigar is being stripped away by an overzealous, anti-smoking movement. Their tactics are varied; be it through supporting onerous cigar taxes or lobbying government for restrictive smoking bans. The anti-smoking movement will stop at nothing short of the complete prohibition of tobacco.

The Declaration of Independence of the United States ensures that all men and women have the freedom and the right to the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, cigar enthusiasts have slowly allowed these rights to be removed. Over the past twenty years, the anti-tobacco movement has broadened their reach and scope and are moving towards abolishing ALL forms of tobacco including cigars. Until recently there has essentially been very little organized opposition to their actions. And why should there have been? Most of us assumed that their attention was directed towards cigarettes.

Unfortunately, we were wrong. Here's the facts...

* All 50 states in America have some form of smoking ban and local, state, and federal governments are working to pass more-restrictive legislature.

* Additionally, 48 states in America have enacted cigar taxes. Some states have gone as far as taxing cigars at a rate of 75%.

* On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) which raised the federal excise tax on cigars to 52.75%.

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Below, we are featuring the video clip of Kelvin Moxley'stestimony against the smoking ban in the state legislature of Tennessee. Moxley, a radio talk show host, eloquently speaks out why a smoking ban encroaches on our personal liberty.

Please join us in protecting our freedom and right to enjoy cigars.

Kelvin Moxley Testifies against Smoking Ban


THE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP)

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is a U.S. federal government program that gives funds to states in order to provide health insurance to families with children. The program was designed to cover uninsured children in families with incomes that are modest but too high to qualify for Medicaid.

SCHIP was created in 1997 and initially authorized for 10 years. SCHIP was to expire in September 2007. So, in July 2007, the U.S. Senate and Congress tried to not only reauthorize SCHIP but also expand SCHIP by $35 billion by proposing a 20,000% increase in the federal excise tax on cigars and $0.61 tax increase on pack of cigarettes. After President Bush's first veto, the U.S. Senate and Congress modified the tax increase on cigars to 6,000% but the revised expansion of SCHIP was vetoed again by President Bush. Unfortunately, the SCHIP debate is not dead yet.

After two presidential vetoes, SCHIP was extended in its current form until 2009. When the U.S. Senate and Congress reconvene in September, they might try to increase the federal excise tax on cigars by 6,000% in order to authorize the bill for SCHIP expanded by $35 billion.

We support providing adequate health insurance to poor children. However, $35 billion expansion of SCHIP is flawed.  With a 6,000% increase in the federal excise tax on cigars, it will reduce the number of smokers and consequently, diminish the funding source. Furthermore, in order to generate the tax revenue needed for expanding SCHIP, Congress must find 22.4 million new smokers by 2017.

Please contact your Senator and Congressman, and let them know that even though you support providing adequate health insurance for poor children, you will not support the 6,000% tax increase on cigars.

www.cigarrights.org