CWNews
CWer Featured in Anti-FDA Spot
Cigar Weekly reported last week, that tobacco giant R. J. Reynolds launched a media campaign to fight a bill wending its way through Congress. The bill, which aims to have the federal Food and Drug Admnistration regulate tobacco as it does other drugs has passed one House committee last week.
Rich Perelman reports in a CigarCyclopedia article: "House Resolution (H.R.) 1108, the "Family Smoking Prevention and
Tobacco Control Act," passed the House Subcommittee on Health by an
18-9 vote on March 11 and the battle over the bill - opposed by the
Bush Administration - now moves to the full Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
Chris McCalla, legislative director for the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) circulated a note to the trade last week that indicated that the full committee "will try to take this up in April and the [full] House perhaps before Memorial Day.
"Several things could cause delay but the House leadership wants to move this. In the Senate, given the schedule, Sen. [Richard] Burr [R-North Carolina] probably has the ability to block it given the tight schedule for floor time. However, if [Reynolds American] decides to throw in the towel, then Burr might let it go. In addition, Sen. [Edward] Kennedy [D-Massachusetts] is occupied with the campaign and may not want to devote the time to try to move it. The cynical view is why would the Democrats want to go now when the industry is funding their campaign? And there is always the possibility that the anti's will want to wait until next year and get an even more punitive bill." "
Chris McCalla, legislative director for the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) circulated a note to the trade last week that indicated that the full committee "will try to take this up in April and the [full] House perhaps before Memorial Day.
"Several things could cause delay but the House leadership wants to move this. In the Senate, given the schedule, Sen. [Richard] Burr [R-North Carolina] probably has the ability to block it given the tight schedule for floor time. However, if [Reynolds American] decides to throw in the towel, then Burr might let it go. In addition, Sen. [Edward] Kennedy [D-Massachusetts] is occupied with the campaign and may not want to devote the time to try to move it. The cynical view is why would the Democrats want to go now when the industry is funding their campaign? And there is always the possibility that the anti's will want to wait until next year and get an even more punitive bill." "
A Monday morning offering on the Smokin Post here at Cigar Weekly from long-time member Andy Martello (asmoker) revealed that he is the actor in the R. J. Reynolds produced TV spot to fight the legsilation. Martello, a traveling comedian and showman appears in the video as a "plate spinner" adding the "plate" of tobacco regulation to the ones already spinning.
Said Martello "
(It's) been awhile since I've posted, but I thought I'd make mention of an
article here at CW regarding the proposed addition of tobacco
regulations to the FDA's already full plate.
Article Link
This excellent article makes mention of the new ad they have running (currently in Michigan's 1st Congressional District - elsewhere down the road perhaps) to bring this issue to the attention of the tobacco users (voters).
As it happens I am the guy spinning the plates in the commercial.
Check out the ad at http://www.fdaconcerns.org/index.html
What started out as a paying gig turned into a cool way to do my part on behalf of the herfing family out there. "
Article Link
This excellent article makes mention of the new ad they have running (currently in Michigan's 1st Congressional District - elsewhere down the road perhaps) to bring this issue to the attention of the tobacco users (voters).
As it happens I am the guy spinning the plates in the commercial.
Check out the ad at http://www.fdaconcerns.org/index.html
What started out as a paying gig turned into a cool way to do my part on behalf of the herfing family out there. "
