Just thought I would post a thread on the emails I got back from my Texas senators about my anger over the proposed cigar tax hike. So here are the replies from John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison:
John Cornyn wrote me:
Dear Mr. Spears:
Thank you for contacting me regarding funding for the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through increased tobacco taxes. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important matter.
As you may know, the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to address the needs of uninsured children in America. It was designed for families who do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private insurance for their children. Over the past decade, SCHIP and Medicaid together have reduced the number of uninsured low-income children by one-third.
I fully support initiatives that increase Americans access to affordable health care. But, I believe Congress should not rely on budgetary gimmicks or tax increases. Instead, Congress should focus on eliminating wasteful government spending. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, investigative arm of Congress, has identified billions of dollars in federal expenditures that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. The GAO found that more than 10 percent of SCHIP enrollees are actually adults whose participation in SCHIP is diverting funds from the needs of low-income children. Instead of raising taxes, Congress should strengthen SCHIP by considering the Presidents proposal to terminate or reduce the budgets of over 140 inefficient or ineffective government programs.
You may be interested to know that I offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution that would have strengthened SCHIP and would have ensured that it first covers low-income children across the country. In addition, my amendment would have allowed states to continue using innovative strategies to cover low-income children; improve and strengthen the oversight of SCHIP; and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as my congressional colleagues and I consider healthcare funding during the 110th Congress. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
And
Kay Bailey Hutchison wrote:
Dear Mr. Spears:
Thank you for contacting me regarding tobacco use. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.
The federal tax rate on cigarettes remained unchanged at eight cents per pack from 1951 to 1982. Since 1982, the rate has been increased several times, and the current federal tax on cigarettes is 39 cents per pack.
S. Con. Res. 21, the Senate Budget Resolution, authorizes an increase in the federal cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1 to raise money for the State Childrens Health Insurance Program. The increased tax would raise an estimated $7.6 billion per year for this important program. However, I voted against the Senate Budget Resolution, and the Conference Report, because it increases spending to nearly $15 trillion over five years and includes a historic $732 billion tax increase. The Budget Resolution fails to extend vital tax cuts that are driving our growing economy and instead creates the steepest tax hike in history.
S. 1799 was introduced by Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) on July 17, 2007. The bill seeks to apply rate parity to the excise tax on small cigars and small cigarettes by raising the tax from $1.828 cents per thousand to $19.50 per thousand units. Currently, there is a maximum federal tax of 4 cents per small cigar and a maximum federal tax of 5 cents per large cigar (or 20.719% of the sales price, not to exceed $48.75 per 1,000 units). This legislation has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, on which I do not serve. Should this legislation come before the full Senate, you may be certain I will keep your views in mind.
I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Unfortunately my House Rep found it convienent to not even email me back. What a loser!!!!:robinhood
Hope you all enjoy the read.
J
John Cornyn wrote me:
Dear Mr. Spears:
Thank you for contacting me regarding funding for the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through increased tobacco taxes. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important matter.
As you may know, the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to address the needs of uninsured children in America. It was designed for families who do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private insurance for their children. Over the past decade, SCHIP and Medicaid together have reduced the number of uninsured low-income children by one-third.
I fully support initiatives that increase Americans access to affordable health care. But, I believe Congress should not rely on budgetary gimmicks or tax increases. Instead, Congress should focus on eliminating wasteful government spending. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, investigative arm of Congress, has identified billions of dollars in federal expenditures that are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. The GAO found that more than 10 percent of SCHIP enrollees are actually adults whose participation in SCHIP is diverting funds from the needs of low-income children. Instead of raising taxes, Congress should strengthen SCHIP by considering the Presidents proposal to terminate or reduce the budgets of over 140 inefficient or ineffective government programs.
You may be interested to know that I offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution that would have strengthened SCHIP and would have ensured that it first covers low-income children across the country. In addition, my amendment would have allowed states to continue using innovative strategies to cover low-income children; improve and strengthen the oversight of SCHIP; and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as my congressional colleagues and I consider healthcare funding during the 110th Congress. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
And
Kay Bailey Hutchison wrote:
Dear Mr. Spears:
Thank you for contacting me regarding tobacco use. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.
The federal tax rate on cigarettes remained unchanged at eight cents per pack from 1951 to 1982. Since 1982, the rate has been increased several times, and the current federal tax on cigarettes is 39 cents per pack.
S. Con. Res. 21, the Senate Budget Resolution, authorizes an increase in the federal cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1 to raise money for the State Childrens Health Insurance Program. The increased tax would raise an estimated $7.6 billion per year for this important program. However, I voted against the Senate Budget Resolution, and the Conference Report, because it increases spending to nearly $15 trillion over five years and includes a historic $732 billion tax increase. The Budget Resolution fails to extend vital tax cuts that are driving our growing economy and instead creates the steepest tax hike in history.
S. 1799 was introduced by Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) on July 17, 2007. The bill seeks to apply rate parity to the excise tax on small cigars and small cigarettes by raising the tax from $1.828 cents per thousand to $19.50 per thousand units. Currently, there is a maximum federal tax of 4 cents per small cigar and a maximum federal tax of 5 cents per large cigar (or 20.719% of the sales price, not to exceed $48.75 per 1,000 units). This legislation has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, on which I do not serve. Should this legislation come before the full Senate, you may be certain I will keep your views in mind.
I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Unfortunately my House Rep found it convienent to not even email me back. What a loser!!!!:robinhood
Hope you all enjoy the read.
J
