Thanks to all you active cigar and pipe smokers that helped uphold the President's veto of SCHIP. You input has helped however now is not the time to rest on our laurels.
Congressional Democrats are currently working on legislation to reintroduce the SCHIP legislation. This proposed legislation will be nearly identical to the previously failed proposal, HR976. In an attempt to appease moderate Republicans, only minor revisions have been made to the eligibility requirements. The tobacco tax proposals, including the excessive taxation on handmade cigars and pipe tobacco, will remain in the legislation.
While IPCPR's federal lobbyists feel that with no substantial changes to this second SCHIP proposal, the president will again veto the legislation (if and when it passes both the House of Representatives and the Senate), and the veto will withstand a second attempt at an override by the House - not enough moderate Republicans will not be swayed to vote in favor of an override due to such minimal changes.
Progress has been made in demonstrating on Capitol Hill that the current proposal will prove detrimental to our industry and we continue working for a compromise.
So we urge you to please keep the pressure un your representatives to not vote for programs that unfairly target those of us who enjoy partaking in a legal activity.