Letter from my senator

[macjoe53]

A Senator who "gets it"

Dear Mr. Gibson,
 
           Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to increasing the tobacco tax to pay for an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue and want you to know that I agree with you.
 
           You may be pleased to know that I voted against the bill that would increase the federal excise tax on tobacco by 61 cents per pack of cigarettes to expand SCHIP. That increase would raise the average retail price on each pack of cigarettes in Louisiana by more than 16 percent. Also, a new tax would be placed on cigars of up to $10 per cigar. It has been estimated that this tax increase could potentially result in a revenue loss of hundreds of millions of dollars, as many people choose to stop smoking in light of the dramatically increased tax.
 
           Since 1997, many states' SCHIP programs have evolved and expanded beyond the original scope of the program. Some state programs include coverage for adults and children of families who have incomes 400 percent above the Federal Poverty Level, which has caused large shortfalls in SCHIP funding each year for a program intended for children. For instance, a family of four making over $82,000 per year would be eligible for SCHIP. These SCHIP expansions stray from the original intention of the program and are creating a more bureaucratic, government-controlled health care delivery system. I believe that we should help families access health care by promoting the use of health savings accounts, association health plans, and tax credits for the purchase of health insurance. These alternatives would allow individuals and families the freedom to choose the plan that best suits their needs rather than forcing families into government-run health care.
 
           Rest assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue working in the U.S. Senate to bring common sense to our tax system. Once again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about other issues important to you and your family.


Sincerely,


Senator David Vitter
United States Senator

 

P.S. Please visit my webiste to sign up for E-Updates and receive regular email updates from me on the issues important to Louisiana families.

[boonedoggle]

Dear Mr. Boone:


Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.



As you may know, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to provide health care to low-income children whose parents did not qualify for Medicaid, but who could not afford private insurance. As a state-federal partnership it has general federal guidelines and provides wide state flexibility on eligibility and implementation. Currently, 6.6 million children are enrolled nation-wide.



H.R. 3162 would expand SCHIP by $47.8 billion in an attempt to cover an additional 5 million children. In order to pay for the program, the bill also calls for various tax increases and funding changes, including a cigarette tax that would increase from 45 cents to 84 cents per pack. Additionally, taxes on cigars would increase to 44.63% of the manufactures' sale price, capped at $1.



I did not support the legislation, but ultimately it passed the House by a vote of 225-204. The Senate has passed its version of the legislation, and now the bill moves to conference where the differences between the House and Senate bills will be resolved.



Again, thank you for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed of issues of importance to you.



Sincerely,

Tom Davis
Member of Congress

[Silound]

I managed to catch Vitter in person when he was in BR for some reason (some friends of mine are reporters and I got the chance to go to a dinner he was at).


Oddly enough, the views he expressed personally are that cigars should not be in even the same tax class as cigarettes. He told me that cigarettes, "little cigars", rolling tobacco, and other inhaled products should be taxed separately from dips & chews, and from cigars.

I was rather pleased to speak with him on the issue.

[macjoe53]

Originally Posted by Silound

I managed to catch Vitter in person when he was in BR for some reason (some friends of mine are reporters and I got the chance to go to a dinner he was at).


Oddly enough, the views he expressed personally are that cigars should not be in even the same tax class as cigarettes. He told me that cigarettes, "little cigars", rolling tobacco, and other inhaled products should be taxed separately from dips & chews, and from cigars.

I was rather pleased to speak with him on the issue.

You actually admit to have reporter friends!

I voted for Vitter everytime I could and his "straying" doesn't bother me - probably because of my personal view on the matters of "ladies of the evening."

And, I have some friends in the media also.

[avid toker]

Unfortunately, my reply wasn't as good...

Dear Mr. Avid Toker:



Thank you for contacting me about your concerns about raising federal cigarette taxes. I appreciate hearing from you about this amendment.



I appreciate knowing of your opposition to taxing cigarettes. Unfortunately, we disagree on this particular issue.



I am very concerned about the health hazards of smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control, cigarette smoking is responsible for one out of every five American deaths. It also costs our society billions of dollars each year, adding to our skyrocketing health care costs. I have, for these reasons, supported a cigarette tax because research has shown that it decreases smoking.



I believe that investment by the federal government in health care is extremely important. New breakthroughs in health care and disease treatment have been made because of the federal investment in medical research. Federal programs in preventative health care and education are also very important in making people healthier and decreasing insurance costs.



I want you to know that I support cutting taxes whenever possible, but only when the tax cut is responsible and fair. I do not support cuts that are paid for with funds from the budget surplus until we safeguard important domestic programs for future generations. America needs to stay on the course of fiscal responsibility.



On August 2, 2007, the proposal that would increase funding for public health programs by increasing the federal cigarette tax by $0.61 the Senate overwhelmingly passed this legislation by a vote of 68-31.



Again, thanks for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the future.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

[coryj]

It's comforting that at least some people actually understand what is going on... the problem is that the majority don't (as they showed when they voted).

[RETSF]

Ms. Mikulski proves my point that once elected your desires on which way this country should go, even the majority, dosen't matter. The "I" at he beginning of each sentence says it all..... The Voter no longer matters. She obviously views her status in government as one of the all knowing, the desires, freedoms and unfair taxation (as well as other liberties) are of little intrest. But it's OK because these people are only looking out for us by eliminiating every precieved evil in the name of the "childern" and for the good of all "Humanity". I guess we'er all just stupid.

[Cubatobaco]

Originally Posted by RETSF

Ms. Mikulski proves my point that once elected your desires on which way this country should go, even the majority, dosen't matter. The "I" at he beginning of each sentence says it all..... The Voter no longer matters. She obviously views her status in government as one of the all knowing, the desires, freedoms and unfair taxation (as well as other liberties) are of little intrest. But it's OK because these people are only looking out for us by eliminiating every precieved evil in the name of the "childern" and for the good of all "Humanity". I guess we'er all just stupid.

Great post! All they think about is themselves and not the well being of there constituents. It only matters when it comes election time.

[Tristan]

Here is the response I received from Senator Russ Feingold:

Dear Mr. Laszewski,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the tobacco tax and State
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding. I appreciate
hearing from you.

The Senate passed an amendment introduced by Senator Gordon
Smith (R-OR) by a vote of 59-40 on March 23, 2007. This was an
amendment to S. Con. Res. 21, the fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget
resolution. The amendment authorized an increase in the tobacco
user fee of no more than $0.61 per package, with the revenue
dedicated to the reauthorization and expansion of CHIP. The final
FY08 budget resolution was passed on May 17, 2007. I voted in
favor of both the Smith amendment and the budget resolution.

The Senate Finance Committee has indicated that it intends to use
the increased tobacco tax to fund a $35 billion increase in CHIP
funding over the next five years.

CHIP is a federal-state matching program that provides health
insurance to certain low-income children and adults whose family
or individual incomes are above the cutoff for Medicaid eligibility.
CHIP funds are provided to states as capped grants, and each state
follows federal guidelines to develop its own plan for
administering the program.

It is important that we continue to fund CHIP as it provides
coverage to low-income individuals who might otherwise not be
able to afford needed care. I am pleased that Congress is taking
steps to continue this valuable program, and I will continue
working to ensure Wisconsin and other states have adequate funds
to provide needed health care benefits to residents.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do so in the future
with any additional questions for comments.


Sincerely,

Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator

[Savvy]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Here is the response I received from Senator Russ Feingold:

Dear Mr. Laszewski,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the tobacco tax and State
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding. I appreciate
hearing from you.

The Senate passed an amendment introduced by Senator Gordon
Smith (R-OR) by a vote of 59-40 on March 23, 2007. This was an
amendment to S. Con. Res. 21, the fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget
resolution. The amendment authorized an increase in the tobacco
user fee of no more than $0.61 per package, with the revenue
dedicated to the reauthorization and expansion of CHIP. The final
FY08 budget resolution was passed on May 17, 2007. I voted in
favor of both the Smith amendment and the budget resolution.

The Senate Finance Committee has indicated that it intends to use
the increased tobacco tax to fund a $35 billion increase in CHIP
funding over the next five years.

CHIP is a federal-state matching program that provides health
insurance to certain low-income children and adults whose family
or individual incomes are above the cutoff for Medicaid eligibility.
CHIP funds are provided to states as capped grants, and each state
follows federal guidelines to develop its own plan for
administering the program.

It is important that we continue to fund CHIP as it provides
coverage to low-income individuals who might otherwise not be
able to afford needed care. I am pleased that Congress is taking
steps to continue this valuable program, and I will continue
working to ensure Wisconsin and other states have adequate funds
to provide needed health care benefits to residents.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do so in the future
with any additional questions for comments.


Sincerely,

Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator

I hate Feingold...and he's really only talking about cigarette smokers in that letter anyway. It's not like there's anything in that whole thing that would refer to your asking him a question anyway. He's just all I like this program, and I'm fine with taxing whoever so that these "poor kids" can get some health insurance...I hate politicians haha

[Cubatobaco]

I love these pre-written responses with the name substitution.

[kjjm4]

It's almost guaranteed that the Senator who sent them neither read your letter nor wrote his/her response to you, too. If they were being honest, they would've just written a letter that said "Shut up and take your onerous taxation, I know what's best for you better than you do."

[worr lord]

Originally Posted by kjjm4

It's almost guaranteed that the Senator who sent them neither read your letter nor wrote his/her response to you, too. If they were being honest, they would've just written a letter that said "Shut up and take your onerous taxation, I know what's best for you better than you do."

Yep.

[Cubatobaco]

Originally Posted by kjjm4

It's almost guaranteed that the Senator who sent them neither read your letter nor wrote his/her response to you, too. If they were being honest, they would've just written a letter that said "Shut up and take your onerous taxation, I know what's best for you better than you do."

[Sturat]

Originally Posted by kjjm4

It's almost guaranteed that the Senator who sent them neither read your letter nor wrote his/her response to you, too. If they were being honest, they would've just written a letter that said "Shut up and take your onerous taxation, I know what's best for you better than you do."

Exactly . . .