I recieved this email today after completing a CASAA call to action
Dear Mr. Jones:
This is in response to your May 31, 2014 e-mail our 9th District Legislative Office in opposition to legislation, S-1867, which would impose the New Jersey Tobacco Products Wholesale Sales and Use Tax on electronic cigarettes. Under this legislation, the wholesale sales tax rate for these unregulated products and their components is imposed at a rate of 75% to impose a tax burden in line with a similar tax burden imposed upon cigarettes under the cigarette tax act.
Additionally, you stand opposed to two additional legislative measures: (1) A-1080 which would extend the provisions of the "New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act" which generally prohibit smoking in indoor public places and workplaces, to apply to public parks and beaches throughout the State and; (2) A-2980 which would establish the "Fund to Prevent Use of Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Devices" in the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of supporting activities to prevent such use in the State, and promoting awareness of the health conditions associated with use of tobacco and electronic smoking devices.
In reviewing correspondence, we understand that you stand opposed to this legislation inasmuch as you believe that it only promotes an unsubstantiated notion that electronic cigarettes pose the same risk as combustible tobacco. Further, you believe that, if enacted, these measures would limit your access to electronic cigarettes which is a product you believe has the potential to save millions of lives every year.
We appreciate your outreach and providing us with the opportunity, as your State Representatives, to understand your viewpoint on this consumer and taxation-related matter. Please be advised that our Delegation continues to review the various issues related to electronic cigarettes, including taxation as well as public health, given the policy debates which have emerged with respect to this relatively new product on the market. Our Delegation has also taken notice of the consumer issues involved, as Assemblyman Rumpf currently serves as a member on the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.
By way of background, S-1867 was heard and released by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on May 19 of this year. Subsequently, S-1867 was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Having already passed the Assembly, A-1080 is presently on Second Reading in the Senate, meaning that the legislation is in a position for a full floor vote. Lastly, A-2980 remains lodged in the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
Please note that our Delegation has consistently opposed the policy mindset
that once dominated Trenton of relying heavily on a myriad of tax and fee increases to balance State Budgets that outspent revenues. Over the past several years, we have worked in bipartisan fashion to end this self-defeating policy mindset by supporting fiscal reform initiatives to control government spending, including imposing a 2% hard cap on property taxes and achieving efficiencies to save taxpayer dollars. Correspondingly, we opposed the tax and fee hikes as means of attracting capital investment and job growth to the state as part of a long-term plan to repair New Jersey's reputation as being hostile to business.
That stated, please be advised that we have updated our constituent files to reflect your steadfast opposition to S-1867, A-1080 and A-2980 for the reasons clearly conveyed in your correspondence. Again, thank you for your outreach. Valued input from actively engaged constituents, such as you, is extremely helpful in our Delegation's continuing commitment to more effectively represent the 9th Legislative District.
I was pleased to know that the politicians are at least reading these emails we as CASAA members are sending out to try and stop the ridiculous restrictions the government is trying to impose on the vaping industry. Read, and signed by 3 New Jersey politicians
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