Senator Cornyn agrees with us.

[VincenteFox]

Got an email from Texas senator John Cornyn yesterday. He actually seems like a pretty sensible guy from his email, even if it is a form letter. Here's what he wrote;

Thank you for contacting me regarding funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through increased tobacco taxes. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important matter.

As you may know, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to address the needs of uninsured children in America. It was designed for families who do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private insurance for their children. Over the past decade, SCHIP and Medicaid together have reduced the number of uninsured low-income children by one-third.

I fully support initiatives that increase Americans' access to affordable health care. But, I believe Congress should not rely on budgetary gimmicks or tax increases. Instead, Congress should focus on eliminating wasteful government spending. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, investigative arm of Congress, has identified billions of dollars in federal expenditures that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. The GAO found that more than 10 percent of SCHIP enrollees are actually adults whose participation in SCHIP is diverting funds from the needs of low-income children. Instead of raising taxes, Congress should strengthen SCHIP by considering the President's proposal to terminate or reduce the budgets of over 140 inefficient or ineffective government programs.

You may be interested to know that I offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution that would have strengthened SCHIP and would have ensured that it first covers low-income children across the country. In addition, my amendment would have allowed states to continue using innovative strategies to cover low-income children; improve and strengthen the oversight of SCHIP; and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as my congressional colleagues and I consider healthcare funding during the 110th Congress. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

[Cigarmark]

Originally Posted by VincenteFox

Got an email from Texas senator John Cornyn yesterday. He actually seems like a pretty sensible guy from his email, even if it is a form letter. Here's what he wrote;

Thank you for contacting me regarding funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through increased tobacco taxes. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important matter.

As you may know, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to address the needs of uninsured children in America. It was designed for families who do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private insurance for their children. Over the past decade, SCHIP and Medicaid together have reduced the number of uninsured low-income children by one-third.

I fully support initiatives that increase Americans' access to affordable health care. But, I believe Congress should not rely on budgetary gimmicks or tax increases. Instead, Congress should focus on eliminating wasteful government spending. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, investigative arm of Congress, has identified billions of dollars in federal expenditures that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. The GAO found that more than 10 percent of SCHIP enrollees are actually adults whose participation in SCHIP is diverting funds from the needs of low-income children. Instead of raising taxes, Congress should strengthen SCHIP by considering the President's proposal to terminate or reduce the budgets of over 140 inefficient or ineffective government programs.

You may be interested to know that I offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution that would have strengthened SCHIP and would have ensured that it first covers low-income children across the country. In addition, my amendment would have allowed states to continue using innovative strategies to cover low-income children; improve and strengthen the oversight of SCHIP; and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as my congressional colleagues and I consider healthcare funding during the 110th Congress. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

Why doesn't it surprise me that a Senator from Texas is actually thinking. I wish some of our other political morons would use their heads instead of stealing from our wallets.

[Razorhog]

That is the same letter that someone else posted from some other Senator. I hope we start seeing more!

[Papichulo]

Originally Posted by Cigarmark

Why doesn't it surprise me that a Senator from Texas is actually thinking. I wish some of our other political morons would use their heads instead of stealing from our wallets.

Sounds like he actually has his act together.

[Ron1YY]

That has got to be the very best form letter I've read. Some day, hopefully in my life time, there will be other politicians that will look at OUR interests when they vote on issues that effect more than their own wallets.


Ron

[yamaha6000]

Hey all, is there any place where we can find out who voted for or against this? I'd like to know thanks!

[emeraldsmoke]

I got the letter from Cornyn & was pleased. But was not pleased with the one from K Bailey Hutchinson, it looks like she for the tax.

Mike M.

[nozero]

Originally Posted by emeraldsmoke

I got the letter from Cornyn & was pleased. But was not pleased with the one from K Bailey Hutchinson, it looks like she for the tax.

Mike M.

Yeah, I did care for her canned response either...

Dear Mr. removed:

Thank you for contacting me regarding tobacco use. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.

The federal tax rate on cigarettes remained unchanged at eight cents per pack from 1951 to 1982. Since 1982, the rate has been increased several times, and the current federal tax on cigarettes is 39 cents per pack.

According to U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention, an alarming 4.5 million minors currently use tobacco in this country. The cost of cigarettes is of limited importance as a factor for dissuading young people from smoking. The reality is that many of these young people, if they continue, will suffer from debilitating and deadly diseases as a result of tobacco use. Therefore, I believe it is important for Congress to encourage states and local governments in their efforts to stop underage smoking and other tobacco use.

We can limit youth access to cigarettes through enforcement of federal and state laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors. The Justice Department has provided states with the necessary funds to conduct compliance checks and enforce their minimum age-of-sale laws, which prohibit underage tobacco sales and require retailers to check photo identification to verify age. The tobacco industry has also sponsored voluntary education campaigns to prevent minors from smoking and to encourage retailers to comply with youth access laws. Should legislation concerning new taxes or other regulations on tobacco be considered by the full Senate, you may be certain I will keep your views in mind.

I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.


Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison


Please do not reply to this message. If you have additional comments, send your remarks through Senator Hutchison's website at http://hutchison.senate.gov/. Thank you.

[OtterAKL4987]

Well it's good to see someone is one our side. Still haven't heard back from either of my Senators. Let's hope Bush sends this one to veto heaven.

[mikeyj23]

Originally Posted by nozero

Yeah, I did care for her canned response either...

Um maybe go read through it again. To me it sounds like she's saying cigarette taxes have been increasing a ton since 1982, but increased cigarette prices do nothing to curb teenage smoking. From my deduction she's implying that the SCHIP tobacco tax increase won't do anything for its intended goal (stopping teenage smoking), and that federal and state laws are the way to curb teen smoking, not tax increases.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting, but it sounds pretty clearly like she's against new tobacco taxes.

[GAW]

Originally Posted by mikeyj23

Um maybe go read through it again. To me it sounds like she's saying cigarette taxes have been increasing a ton since 1982, but increased cigarette prices do nothing to curb teenage smoking. From my deduction she's implying that the SCHIP tobacco tax increase won't do anything for its intended goal (stopping teenage smoking), and that federal and state laws are the way to curb teen smoking, not tax increases.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting, but it sounds pretty clearly like she's against new tobacco taxes.

I agree with your interpretation - she really does not address the new proposal directly - so maybe she is a no on this. Jerry

[burninator]

Originally Posted by mikeyj23

Um maybe go read through it again. To me it sounds like she's saying cigarette taxes have been increasing a ton since 1982, but increased cigarette prices do nothing to curb teenage smoking. From my deduction she's implying that the SCHIP tobacco tax increase won't do anything for its intended goal (stopping teenage smoking), and that federal and state laws are the way to curb teen smoking, not tax increases.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting, but it sounds pretty clearly like she's against new tobacco taxes.

Sounds to me like a professional politician. She's worded it so carefully as to come down on both sides of the issue and neither side at the same time.

[nozero]

emeraldsmoke stated "it looks like she for the tax", not me. I stated that I didn't care for her response. I did not say why and perhaps that is why my reasons were unclear.

I didn't contact her "regarding tobacco use"; I contacted her about the proposed tax increase on tobacco products. More specifically, "Cigars would attract an ever greater increase, with premium cigars that are currently taxed at 5 cents being taxed at 10 dollars each.”(From http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/77369.php) IMO, her response didn't address this directly, but rather generally quoting stats about the history of cigarette taxes, minors’ use of tobacco and methods that may possibly deter such. Quite honestly, my concern was and is only the tax as it would apply to cigars.

If Bush vetoes this, it will, however little, change my opinion of him.<O</O