Difference between revisions of "OBAMA WILL MAKE OR BREAK CIGARETTES MAIL BAN"
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Finally they did!!! The Congress sent the “Prevents All Cigarette Trafficking” (PACT) Act to President Obama for approvement and sign. | Finally they did!!! The Congress sent the “Prevents All Cigarette Trafficking” (PACT) Act to President Obama for approvement and sign. | ||
The ban is a measure that would bring the full weight of the federal government down on the Seneca Nation's huge tax-free tobacco trade that New York State has been fighting for years. | The ban is a measure that would bring the full weight of the federal government down on the Seneca Nation's huge tax-free tobacco trade that New York State has been fighting for years. | ||
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The House, in a 387-25 vote, sent Obama a bill the Senate had approved six days earlier. The president is expected to sign it shortly, and it would take effect 90 days later. | The House, in a 387-25 vote, sent Obama a bill the Senate had approved six days earlier. The president is expected to sign it shortly, and it would take effect 90 days later. | ||
Revision as of 09:33, 23 April 2010
Finally they did!!! The Congress sent the “Prevents All Cigarette Trafficking” (PACT) Act to President Obama for approvement and sign. The ban is a measure that would bring the full weight of the federal government down on the Seneca Nation's huge tax-free tobacco trade that New York State has been fighting for years.
The House, in a 387-25 vote, sent Obama a bill the Senate had approved six days earlier. The president is expected to sign it shortly, and it would take effect 90 days later.
On the one hand, this bill will allow states and localities to have a major revenue boost by cracking online sale of tobacco.
On the other hand, this law is going to devastate the nation's tobacco entrepreneurs and make thousands of people jobless.
Seneca representatives stated that while warning of the economic dangers the bill poses to the tribe.
"Enforcement will be difficult," said Gerry McKiernan, a spokesman for the Postal Service. Because of privacy laws, "Priority Mail is sealed from inspection. All first-class mail is sealed from inspection. I don't really know how it's going to work," declared McKiernan. If the mailing of cigarettes is blocked, the financially struggling Postal Service could lose $30 million to $40 million a year in revenue, McKiernan added. But that's nothing compared with the potential loss to the Senecas.
"This is a direct assault on our economy and our people," declaired Barry E. Snyder Sr., the tribe's president. "And it will have a devastating ripple effect on the Western New York economy."
Snyder said he didn't understand how local lawmakers could support the bill. "It is difficult to comprehend how our elected officials can vote for something that will kill more than 1,000 jobs," he said. "It's extremely disappointing."
Is it right to deprive people of the opportunity to buy cigarettes for affordable prices. Will this ban have the positive impact on smoking cessation and cancer elimination?
Simon Clark, director of Forest (Freedom Organization for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco), proved that cases of asthma had been rising as the number of smokers had fallen. That makes us hesitate whether smoking is really a major problem which causes the increase of cancer cases. What about pollution, plastic surgery, embryonic stem cell rejuvenation?
