Vermont Will Impose Massive Tax on E-Cigarettes
HB 884 is now pending before the Revenue Committee (joint committee with members of both the Vermont House and Senate). Members of the Vermont House are strongly in favor of the tax, but both the Senate and Governor Peter Shumlin have stated that they are concerned that the tax is a bad idea.
We need vapers to immediately contact the below members and Governor.
Members of the Vermont Revenue Conference Committee need to hear true life stories about vaping from Vermont residents. As a consumer of electronic cigarettes, you know better than most that these products are NOTHING like combustible cigarettes and that cost and full access to them are important to you. YOUR story must be heard by the legislators to make positive change, so make sure your voice is heard!
Please consider taking a few minutes to reach out to the members of the Vermont Legislature and the Governor by phone or e-mail. Please RESPECTFULLY but firmly tell the members in these or your own words that:
• Please vote NO on any tax on vapor products (such as electronic cigarettes), especially the massive 92% tax proposed in HB 884
• Vapor products are only currently subject to Vermont sales tax, and therefore enactment of this bill would constitute a 1500% tax hike.
• Passage of such a huge tax will just lead people in Vermont to purchase their vapor products online or out-of-state, where neither the sales tax nor the tobacco tax will be paid.
• Electronic cigarettes are smoke-free, and often nicotine-free, and are approximately 99% less hazardous than smoking. There is absolutely no justification for subjecting them to a “sin tax.”
• Tell your personal story on how switching to an e-cigarette has changed your life or the life of someone you love.
• This tax will discourage smokers from switching to electronic cigarettes and decimate small electronic cigarette businesses in Vermont that are growing and creating jobs.
• Let them know where in Vermont you live.
Comma delimited email list (be sure to call Governor Shumlin as well): tashe@leg.state.vt.us, mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us, kjmbjm@aol.com, jcampbell@leg.state.vt.us, shapv@aol.com, janetancel@earthlink.net, dsharpe@leg.state.vt.us
Governor Peter Shumlin, 802-828-3333, contact form
Senator Tim Ashe (Chittenden District), Senate Chair, tashe@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Mark A. MacDonald (Orange District), Vice-Chair, mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Kevin Mullin (Rutland District), kjmbjm@aol.com
Senate President John Campbell, 802-828-3806, JCampbell@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Shap Smith, 802-828-2245, shapv@aol.com
Rep. Janet Ancel (Plainfield, Marshfield, Calais), House Chair, janetancel@earthlink.net
Rep. David Sharp (Bristol), 802-828-2231, dsharpe@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Bill Johnson (Essex, Caledonia, Orleans), 802-277-8329
Remember: An effective letter or phone call is short and to the point. Legislators receive many emails and phone calls each day. The most important thing is to respectfully communicate your opposition to e-cigarette taxes and overbearing sales regulations.