Pipe Smokers,
This tax legislation will effect pipe tobacco too, so please read the letter below and pass the word on to all your friends!

Urgent Notice to Cigar Smokers!

The U.S. Senate will very shortly vote on a proposal to expand the “State Children’s Health Insurance” program by $35 billion with funding to be provided solely thorough higher tobacco taxes.

The tax proposal is focused on cigarettes. However, the increase will also include all other tobacco products. Unfortunately, the tax cap on cigars is effectively removed by raising it from slightly under five cents per cigar to $10 per cigar. Why should cigar smokers bear this unfair burden?

The tax increase on cigars is particularly punitive, as all larger cigars would be subject to a Federal Excise tax of 53.13% of the manufacturer’s selling price. This is an increase of 156.4% over the current rate! The proposed legislation would increase he current tax cap by 20,413% (not a typo)! This would be the largest tax increase on any product in the history of the United States.

The proposal would result in a dramatic increase in cigar prices in the U.S. and all cigar smokers would be affected. For example, a cigar that currently has a $4 selling price in an average tax state would sell for $13.05 after the proposed legislation.

We urge you to connect to http://rtda.org/legislation.html to quickly and efficiently contact your specific elected officials via email and voice your opposition.

Your help is needed today!

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ)   (202) 224-2235

U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)            (202) 224-4521