This is exactly what I wanted to see this morning... <SARCASM>

[Smoqman]

As someone who has worked closely with Government types and lobbying firms, I can tell you that writing a letter to your representative is the most effective way of changing minds and pushing pens. That is from an Individual Constituent stand point.
If you don't do this or something like this you are helping that side which wishes to pass bills into law that you oppose.

In addition, getting just ONE other person (who wouldn't normally or without your encouragement) to do the same has a multiplying effect that can truly change the direction of such ideas or squash them all together.

Lastly:
Joining the CRA and donating money to those who wish to thwart these efforts is extremely important and helps band your influence with others.

Remember: doing nothing is like voting FOR that which you oppose.

 

[problemsolverjc]

I just did a quick search, the first bill, the smoking indoor ban at cigar shops, is unfortunately being brought forward by Republican.

The reason that is unfortunate is that it looks like Republicans have the majority in the Senate and the House.

That doesn't mean the bill will definitely pass at all, but it stands a decent chance starting off like that.

The last bill, the one about raising the tax, that is being brought forward by a Democrat, and since Dems are in the minority, not to mention Repubs don't generally like bills that raise taxes, the second bill probably doesn't have that much of a chance.

The indoor air bill extension was brought forward by a rep I have actually met with before (he was our rep before we moved). His brother died of lung cancer so he has it out for smoking as a whole, even though he is a republican. He is not going to change his mind...

 

[jeffturneraz]

The indoor air bill extension was brought forward by a rep I have actually met with before (he was our rep before we moved). His brother died of lung cancer so he has it out for smoking as a whole, even though he is a republican. He is not going to change his mind...

And that is fine but he still has to get everyone else to vote for it multiple times in the Senate, then multiple times in the House, then even if it gets that far the Governor could still veto it.

Not saying it won't pass but there are many hurdles and working in my local state legislature here in Arizona, it is VERY common for a republican bill to fail even though the majority is republican.

Just trying to show there is hope it won't make it but some good lobbying needs to be done in conjunction with local people in the state to call their Senator and Representatives. Flood their phones, they will get the hint.

They don't want to lose their seat because one of their colleagues is on a personal crusade.

 

[Deathskin]

We have a cra member here that's elected into his local govt he is considering running for state govt...there is hope

 

[problemsolverjc]

Well with the number of casinos in our state, and the warehouses for CI, Famous, Holt, and a TON of B&Ms, we certainly have a chance of knocking this down.

According to facebook posts, CRA is going on an all out attack... To quote others earlier... if you are on this board and aren't a member, spend the $20 and join CRA!!!

 

[Smoqman]

There is always "hope".

Always.

 

[Deathskin]

Here u can only smoke in cigar lounges and casinos but our governor said given the chance he would ban smoking in casinos tomarrow

 

[Lipher]

Well with the number of casinos in our state, and the warehouses for CI, Famous, Holt, and a TON of B&Ms, we certainly have a chance of knocking this down.

According to facebook posts, CRA is going on an all out attack... To quote others earlier... if you are on this board and aren't a member, spend the $20 and join CRA!!!

35 bucks

 

[mwlabel]

I'm all for joining the CRA. Certainly a smart move.


However, when push comes to shove... cigar smokers have to unite and mobilize. You want to see real change? Go to your local B&M, and get people there to write letters. Do it often.

You can give yourself a nice pat on the back for joining a group, but real change comes from political activity.

 

[Deathskin]

I'm all for joining the CRA. Certainly a smart move.


However, when push comes to shove... cigar smokers have to unite and mobilize. You want to see real change? Go to your local B&M, and get people there to write letters. Do it often.

You can give yourself a nice pat on the back for joining a group, but real change comes from political activity.

Truth

 

[jeffturneraz]

All of that is true, joining CRA will definitely contribute to the lobbying it takes to shoot down these bills.

I am not currently a member, nor do I have an incentive to "sell" anyone on a membership. Just wanted to point out that while one of the most important things you could do is to "mobilize"...get yourself out there, spread the word, get signatures, send emails, make phone calls, start social media campaigns, all of those are of the UTMOST importance, there is also an upside to joining CRA other than to just say your a member, which is to help fund the groups efforts, which from what I can tell have had some success.

 

[erjaq]

Man, this is nonsense. I'm a newbie around these parts, but I joined the CRA today. Next they're going to ban food from restaurants.

 

[Deathskin]

They've allready started some cities have banned transfats

 

[blessednxs65]

+1 on this. I asked one of the politicos in my area why smoking was a target when all around us are all sorts of plagues and maladies impacting our community. His response, deflection.

Of all the sick f'd up crap in this world ...This is where these people choose to focus their attention..........Hmm what can I do to make the world a better place....decrease poverty... combat the epidemic drug problem...ooh I got it cigar smokers... let's F cigar smokers not only in public places but you know places made for specifically smokers you know to protect them from themselves, we can't just be doling out rights and free will to everyone in America ...right...yeah, yeah and let's tax the $#it out of them Johnson!

Way to take aim at matters that will for sure improve the livelihood of people.... $#it bags.

 

[Arione]

We already have that crap in Hawaii, it blows. no bars, restaurants, cigar stores (we only have 2 now) beaches, parks, cars, or even in your own home within 20 ft of an operating window or door. Except on govt property. Glad there is plenty of that out here.

 

[mjohop]

+1 on this. I asked one of the politicos in my area why smoking was a target when all around us are all sorts of plagues and maladies impacting our community. His response, deflection.

Of all the sick f'd up crap in this world ...This is where these people choose to focus their attention..........Hmm what can I do to make the world a better place....decrease poverty... combat the epidemic drug problem...ooh I got it cigar smokers... let's F cigar smokers not only in public places but you know places made for specifically smokers you know to protect them from themselves, we can't just be doling out rights and free will to everyone in America ...right...yeah, yeah and let's tax the $#it out of them Johnson!

Way to take aim at matters that will for sure improve the livelihood of people.... $#it bags.

And it's really easy to get non-smokers to rally behind anti-smoking legislation. The anti-tobacco lobby just has to say "chemicals" and "cancer" and it's enough to throw people into a frenzy. I live just north of Scranton, PA, Exit 199 off of 81 North for those of you who are familiar with the area, and last time I talked to a physician they said there are more and more cases of lung cancer in non-smokers now in the area due to the pollution. But no one will seek to fix that, they'd rather go after something that people can see and something that people can blame on others. If you tried to curb the amount of pollution put out by the trucks that supply the Walmarts (there are like 6 in a 50 mile radius here) and the warehouses you'd have them threaten to pull the jobs out of the area.

There are so many other issues in this state. Crime in some areas are off the charts, a local study put out that you are more likely to be the victim of violent crime in Wilkes-Barre than in Detroit based on the population. Interstate 80 which runs across the state is pretty much the drug and gun trafficking corridor to the west from NY/NJ. Unemployment is awful in most areas. Underemployment is even worse as most of the new jobs are low level service jobs at big box retailers and restaurants or entry level jobs at warehouses which are pretty much temporary jobs since they're here on tax breaks or tax free zones and once their term is up they'll move out. But smoking is the real issue to Greenleaf and Scavello.

I understand that disease potentially caused by smoking is easily preventable. I get that. But if we start down this path in PA, where does it stop? Car crashes are easily preventable by not driving. Alcohol related disease is easily preventable by not drinking. Are we to ban these too for the sake of safety?

 

[Deathskin]

Here in Des Moines iowa 80 and 35 cross here both run east/west and north/south clear across the country...this is a hotbed for drug runners and the law makes very little busts but when they do they're huge and now that Colorado has legalized weed there's double the trafficking here. Most of the busts are runners on 80 heading to Chicago

 

[Tag9485]

We already have that crap in Hawaii, it blows. no bars, restaurants, cigar stores (we only have 2 now) beaches, parks, cars, or even in your own home within 20 ft of an operating window or door. Except on govt property. Glad there is plenty of that out here.

Wow, I would get arrested there. Someone is going to tell me that I can't smoke in my car??? Or that if I do it in my home I need to be a certain ft away from a door or window??? Yea sorry, sling me a ticket chief bc this honky ain't doin that. I believe I'll be joining the CRA soon. Some of these laws are absolutely ridiculous.

 

[dscl]

Wow, dick move Penn!

Like others have said write your representatives and join the CRA!

 

[Captain_Midnight]

As someone who lives in a state where there is no smoking indoors, without exception, I have to say, this issue goes beyond tobacco use. It's about personal freedoms. Even people who do not visit smoking establishments should be concerned about such laws. We should all want the God given right to decide for ourselves.