This is a syndicated post, which originally appeared at CASAA. View original post.
Louisiana: Bill Would Increase the State’s Smokeless Tobacco Tax by 100% — HB 713
[full text of HB 713] [legislative tracking]
If enacted this bill would:
– increase the tax on cigarettes from 36 cents to $1.00 a pack, but it would also increase the tax on smokeless tobacco products from 20% of the invoice price to 40% of the invoice price (a 100% increase).
This bill would *not* impact e-cigarettes.
HB 713 is now awaiting a hearing before the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee. If you may be able to testify against this bill at a committee hearing in Baton Rouge, OK, please email us at board@casaa.org.
Louisiana Citizens: In addition to contacting the below legislators, it is extremely important that you also speak to your own representatives. Click here to find out who represents you in the Louisiana House.
To oppose HB 713, please call, write, or fax the members of the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee
1. You oppose HB 713 because they would impose an unnecessary and punitive tax increase on smokeless tobacco products.
2. Tell your story on how switching from cigarettes to a far less hazardous smoke-free tobacco product has changed your life.
3. Explain that the purpose of increasing cigarette tax rates was to reimburse state expenditures for treating the many diseases caused by cigarette smoking. Because smokeless tobacco products have been found to be around 99% less harmful than cigarettes, there is no justification for such an outrageously excessive tax, which would discourage smokers from switching to a less harmful alternative.
4. Explain that even if the cigarette tax is raised to $1 per pack, enactment of HB 713 would lead to some smokeless tobacco consumers actually paying a higher tax than cigarette users.
5. Tell them that by switching to a smokeless product, you have greatly reduced your health risks.
6. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.
Members of the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee
Comma delimited email list:
larep004@legis.la.gov, burfordr@legis.la.gov, thompsonj@legis.la.gov, hoffmanf@legis.la.gov, thibautm@legis.la.gov, hazelc@legis.la.gov, johnsoro@legis.la.gov, larep029@legis.la.gov, danahaym@legis.la.gov, larep036@legis.la.gov, larep041@legis.la.gov, larep045@legis.la.gov, barrast@legis.la.gov, whitneyl@legis.la.gov, larep059@legis.la.gov, larep075@legis.la.gov, stokesj@legis.la.gov, broadwaterc@legis.la.gov, legerw@legis.la.gov, willmott@legis.la.gov, bishopw@legis.la.gov
Rep. Patrick C. Williams (D) (District 4)
1500 N. Market Street, Suite A-200
Shreveport, LA 71107
Phone: (318) 676-5990
Fax: (318) 676-5992
larep004@legis.la.gov
671 Hwy. 171, Suite E
Stonewall, LA 71078″
Phone: (318) 925-9588
Fax: (318) 925-9590
burfordr@legis.la.gov
Rep. Jeff R. Thompson (R) (District 8)
1527 Doctors Drive
Bossier City, LA 71111
Phone: (318) 741-2850
Fax: (318) 741-2852
thompsonj@legis.la.gov
Rep. Frank A. Hoffmann (R) (District 15)
204 North 3rd Street, Suite A
West Monroe, LA 71291
Phone: (318) 362-4130
Fax: (318) 362-4131
hoffmanf@legis.la.gov
Rep. Major Thibaut (D) (District 18)
2004 False River Drive
New Roads, LA 70760
Phone: (225) 638-3811
Fax: (225) 638-2952
thibautm@legis.la.gov
Rep. Lowell C. Hazel (R) (District 27)
1013 Main Street
Pineville, LA 71360
Phone: (318) 767-6082
Fax: (318) 767-6084
hazelc@legis.la.gov
Rep. Robert A. Johnson (D) (District 28)
P.O. Box 467
Marksville, LA 71351
Phone: (318) 253-8891
Fax: (318) 253-6377
Rep. Regina Ashford Barrow (D) (District 29)
4811 Harding Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70811
Phone: (225) 359-9400
Fax: (225) 359-9402
larep029@legis.la.gov
Rep. Michael E. Danahay (D) (District 33)
1625 Beglis Pkwy.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Phone: (337) 527-5581
Fax: (337) 527-5803
danahaym@legis.la.gov
Rep. Charles E. “Chuck” Kleckley (R) (District 36)
130 Jamestown Road
Lake Charles, LA 70605
Phone: (337) 475-3016
Fax: (337) 475-3018
larep036@legis.la.gov
Rep. Mickey J. Guillory (D) (District 41)
P.O. Box 986
Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: (337) 457-0194
Fax: (337) 457-5649
larep041@legis.la.gov
102 Woodvale Avenue, Suite B
Lafayette, LA 70503
Phone: (337) 984-1091
Fax: (337) 984-8987
larep045@legis.la.gov
Rep. Taylor F. Barras (R) (District 48)
800 S. Lewis Street
Suite 206, 2nd Floor
New Iberia, LA 70560
Phone: (337) 373-4051
Fax: (337) 373-4053
barrast@legis.la.gov
Rep. Lenar L. Whitney (R) (District 53)
8026 Main St., Suite 704
Houma, LA 70360
Phone: (985)858-2970
Fax: (985)858-2972
whitneyl@legis.la.gov
Rep. Eddie J. Lambert (R) (District 59)
P.O. Box 241
Gonzales, LA 70707
Phone: (225) 673-5048
Fax: (225) 673-6980
larep059@legis.la.gov
Rep. Harold L. Ritchie (D) (District 75)
302 Louisiana Ave.
Bogalusa, LA 70427
Phone: (985) 730-2147
Fax: (985) 730-2149
larep075@legis.la.gov
Rep. Julie Stokes (R) (District 79)
4425 Clearview Pkwy, Suite D
Metairie, LA 70006
Phone: (504) 456-3173
stokesj@legis.la.gov
Rep. Christopher Broadwater (R) (District 86)
112 South Cypress St.
Hammond, LA 70403
Phone: (985)543-4900
Fax: (985)543-4902
broadwaterc@legis.la.gov
Rep. Walt Leger, III (D) (District 91)
600 Carondelet Street, 9th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: (504)556-9970
Fax: (504)556-9972
legerw@legis.la.gov
Rep. Thomas P. Willmott (R) (District 92)
2002 20th Street, Suite 204-A
Kenner, LA 70062
Phone: (504) 465-3479
Fax: (504)465-3481
willmott@legis.la.gov
Rep. Wesley T. Bishop (D) (District 99)
7240 Crowder Blvd., Suite 402
New Orleans, LA 70127
Phone: (504) 242-4198
Fax: (504) 242-6116
bishopw@legis.la.gov
