The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 ("PACT Act") (S.1147) is scheduled for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, November 5th. This legislation contains, among other bad ideas, a provision which would make ALL cigarettes, RYO and smokeless tobacco products nonmailable. This bill has already been passed by the House, and if approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, could be sent to the full Senate floor for a vote at any time!
By making all cigarettes, RYO and smokeless tobacco products nonmailable, this law means you will no longer be able to purchase these products by mail-order, telephone order, or on the Internet, because the United States Postal Service, along with UPS, Fed-Ex and all other carriers will be prohibited by law from delivering your orders to you. Taking away your options means forcing you back to buying over-priced tobacco products from your local retailer. However, you will also be limited to their selection, which in most cases is terrible, or if you even have a retailer. When they past the schip, a lot of retailers went belly up.
This bill was considered in committee on Nov 19, 2009. They recommended it be considered by the Senate as a whole. S.1147 was Placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 216. Thomas Library of Congress Link
Note that this bill is essentially the same as H.R. 1676: PACT Act which passed the House on May 21, 2009 with Bipartisan support. The totals were 397 Ayes, 11 Nays, 25 Present/Not Voting. H.R. 1676: Vote Details
Here's the CBO cost estimates for H.R. 1676: PACT Act
The Senate is on recess until Nov. 30, contact your senators NOW if you haven't yet done so. Contact information and reasons for them to vote NO on the PACT ACT can be found above.
I know a lot of you could care less about this, but my gosh, when is this going to stop. Tobacco has already been taxed by 2000% last year. Now, they are wanting to limit internet sales and transactions. What's next? This is a stepping stone and think, ANYTHING you can only get over the internet could be next. Please, save the anti tobacco bashing will ya???? Don't want to get kicked of here like I did with another topic that got "out of hand."
By making all cigarettes, RYO and smokeless tobacco products nonmailable, this law means you will no longer be able to purchase these products by mail-order, telephone order, or on the Internet, because the United States Postal Service, along with UPS, Fed-Ex and all other carriers will be prohibited by law from delivering your orders to you. Taking away your options means forcing you back to buying over-priced tobacco products from your local retailer. However, you will also be limited to their selection, which in most cases is terrible, or if you even have a retailer. When they past the schip, a lot of retailers went belly up.
This bill was considered in committee on Nov 19, 2009. They recommended it be considered by the Senate as a whole. S.1147 was Placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 216. Thomas Library of Congress Link
Note that this bill is essentially the same as H.R. 1676: PACT Act which passed the House on May 21, 2009 with Bipartisan support. The totals were 397 Ayes, 11 Nays, 25 Present/Not Voting. H.R. 1676: Vote Details
Here's the CBO cost estimates for H.R. 1676: PACT Act
The Senate is on recess until Nov. 30, contact your senators NOW if you haven't yet done so. Contact information and reasons for them to vote NO on the PACT ACT can be found above.
I know a lot of you could care less about this, but my gosh, when is this going to stop. Tobacco has already been taxed by 2000% last year. Now, they are wanting to limit internet sales and transactions. What's next? This is a stepping stone and think, ANYTHING you can only get over the internet could be next. Please, save the anti tobacco bashing will ya???? Don't want to get kicked of here like I did with another topic that got "out of hand."
