URGENT Action TODAY, the US needs our help

[jaki]

By the power of the interwebz, I have copied and pasted this from UKVapers in the hope of drumming up a bit more support.
The initial post is from Katherine Devlin (Doodlebug)

Hi, everyone,

I am posting to ask everyone in our community to do whatever they can to support our American friends and fellow vapers today. The New York State Assembly will be considering an outright ban on all sales of electronic cigarettes tomorrow, Tuesday 25th January 2011, but we can help TODAY!

I know a lot of peeps are sick and tired of being asked to sign this, email that, write to this person, phone that person, but please... don't let apathy get in the way of having your voice heard. It would be easy to think that what happens in New York doesn't affect us, but it does and it will. Wherever precedents are set that fall for or against us, it adds weight to whichever side of the argument. Today we have an opportunity to tip those scales in our favour.

So here's what's happening:

The New York State Assembly Health Committee has, with little notice, put Bill A01468 on its meeting agenda for this coming Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 12 noon. It is Section 2 (starting at line 37) that purports to ban all sales of electronic cigarettes (unless and until they are approved by the FDA as a cessation product), while Section 1 only bans sales to minors, etc.

If the bill passes the committee, it will go to the full Assembly for a vote--where the identical bill passed unanimously last year! It did not become law only because the Senate version never got out of the Senate Health Committee. While we probably have a better chance of stopping this in the NYS Senate, we still need to try and stop it at the Assembly level before it gains momentum.

It is critical that we act NOW in order to immediately defeat this bill. In the link below, you will find information including (1) the full text of the bill; (2) instructions on contacting the legislators; (3) a pre-written letter template suitable for faxing or e-mailing; and (4) a full contact list of legislators.

www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=114&l=a&p=

(This was sent to me by CASAA and the US National Vapers' Club.)

(This bit added by Jaki) [There is a link on the above site to download a pre-written letter - just add the name of an assembly member and ideally print it off, sign it by hand, scan in and follow the next instructions ]

You don't even have to fill in the name of the addressee.. just pop your own name on there and email it to me at [e-mail] before noon Tuesday 25th January. I can then forward our collective submissions to the States, where they can be faxed directly to the NY Assembly.

Come on folks: let's get these lazy pen-pushers off their arses and collecting endless reams of paper from the fax machines, so that they realise that the vaping community is not going to roll over and play dead! Tomorrow, it's New York, the next one could fall much closer to home! Let's help them get it right.

Thank you very much.

Katherine

(We have written a separate letter from ECITA which I shall post on our blog today, in case anyone is interested.)
ukvapers.com/blog/23/entry-83-new-york-up-to-old-tricks-community-action-urgently-needed/


Edited to add link to ECITA blog
Edited again to correct my spelling

[l15a]

Done :-)

[jaki]

Fab, thanks Lisa.

Apparently those in the US (and some here) have had a telephone campaign going and the secretary to the senator is in a crumpled mess, she is so inundated with calls!

These are going to be faxed across rather than emailed, so the full weight of support will be felt by loads of innocent fax operators, who will be obliged to pass them on to the health committee members and recognise the strength of support for vaping.

[Chrissie]

Jaki, thanks for posting this. Not very well at the moment so may be reading things wrongs, but without a fax facility, I can't see any other way that letters can get there before noon tomorrow?

[jaki]

Sorry you're feeling poorly Chrissie, I hope you're on the mend soon x


Sorry, I never explain things clearly!

Katherine is mailing them to someone in the States (Julie Woessner apparently ???- I am assuming she is something to do with CASAA) who is then faxing them through to the NYS Assembly, so all we need to do is mail Katherine and the rest is done for us

[Chrissie]

No Jaki, it was me that hadn't read your opening post thoroughly

[jerryrm]

The bill passed in the NY General Assembly, but it still has to be voted on in the Senate.

This is no surprise as New York has one of highest cigarette excise taxes in the U.S. They depend on that money and no taxes are collected on e-cigs (yet).

It's all about money, my friends.

[Perpetua]

It always was going to be, wasn't it Jerry? >

[jerryrm]

Jan 25, 2011 22:30:39 GMT Perpetua said:

It always was going to be, wasn't it Jerry? >

that's why I stayed away from this thread, until now, Perpy. I didn't want to discourage anyone from trying to help us and we appreciate your help.

The good news is that the last time this bill came up in NY, we vapers did find some friends in the Senate and the bill was stalled in committee. The fight is not over yet, it still has to go to through the Senate and then after that, signed into law by the Governor.

There are powerful interests in this country that would like to see e-cigs banned, but there are also some good and honest people who recognize the benefits of them. Our hopes rest with the good people.

[Perpetua]

I'm a huge believer in people power Jerry, you've also some pretty high profile vapers who I'm sure will be adding their weight as well to the cause.

[jerryrm]

Jan 26, 2011 13:00:18 GMT Perpetua said:

I'm a huge believer in people power Jerry, you've also some pretty high profile vapers who I'm sure will be adding their weight as well to the cause.

Their input can't hurt, Perpy, but it's money that speaks the loudest, here. >

[Chrissie]

Sadly you are right Jerry & Big Pharm have money to burn