UPDATE (5/18/2013)
The Sales and Income Tax Subcommittee of the House Ways & Means Committee gave a favorable vote to H. 4074 on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
This is just the first step in the process. This bill may go before the full House & Ways Committee this week. We need South Carolina vapers to attend and testify at this hearing if it ocurrs. Please e-mail us at board@casaa.org with the subject line "SC Testimony."
Vapers in South Carolina: Please continue to make phone calls to the legislators on the House Ways and Means Committee encouraging them to remove the tax and licensing provisions relating to "vapor products" from H. 4074.
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Original Post:
Call to Action! South Carolina Bill to Tax E-Cigarettes And More -- H. 4074 (UPDATED -- Another Hearing Soon?)
If enacted, this bill would:
The Sales and Income Tax Subcommittee of the House Ways & Means Committee gave a favorable vote to H. 4074 on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
This is just the first step in the process. This bill may go before the full House & Ways Committee this week. We need South Carolina vapers to attend and testify at this hearing if it ocurrs. Please e-mail us at board@casaa.org with the subject line "SC Testimony."
Vapers in South Carolina: Please continue to make phone calls to the legislators on the House Ways and Means Committee encouraging them to remove the tax and licensing provisions relating to "vapor products" from H. 4074.
==============
Original Post:
Call to Action! South Carolina Bill to Tax E-Cigarettes And More -- H. 4074 (UPDATED -- Another Hearing Soon?)
If enacted, this bill would:
- Tax sales of e-cigarette products containing nicotine ("vapor products") at 5 cents per milliliter of liquid.
- Require e-cigarette retailers who import nicotine-containing products from other states to obtain a license to sell tobacco products and abide by lengthy regulations.
- Make it a criminal offense for consumers to buy an untaxed e-cigarettes online unless they file a tax return with the South Carolina Department of Revenue by the 20th of each month.
As recently exposed on the Daily Caller by Matthew Bandyk, bills like H. 4074 are a part of a concerted strategy by tobacco company R.J. Reynolds (RJR) to tax sales of electronic cigarettes. RJR has its lobbyist(s) out everyday in South Carolina campaigning for this tax, so a swift and heavy response is needed from South Carolina vapers to stop this bill!
If you may be able to testify against this bill when it gets a committee hearing in Columbia, South Carolina, please email us at board@casaa.org. Please use the subject line "SC Testimony."
If you are from South Carolina, please also contact your representative and senator in the South Carolina Legislature and tell them that you're an e-cigarette user, you vote, and you don't want the unnecessary tax hike in H. 4074 to become law.
Please contact the members of the South Carolina House Ways & Means Committee below:
1. Please vote NO on H 4074, which would hike taxes on tens of thousands of South Carolina e-cigarette users and treat e-cigarettes like a tobacco product by requiring tobacco licenses. Alternatively, amend the bill to clarify that there shall be no excise tax on "vapor products," and remove all references to "vapor products" in the licensing sections of the bill.
2. Tell your story on how switching to an e-cigarette has changed your life.
3. Explain that H 4074's provision that claims to cap the "vapor product" tax at 10% the excise tax levied on cigarettes is legislative fiction. In fact, if H 4074 is passed, you could end up paying an additional $1.50 each time you purchase a 30 ml bottle of liquid.
4. Note that South Carolina citizens and businesses do not support new taxes and burdensome regulations. Further explain that imposing these laws on e-cigarette sales only serves to protect cigarette markets and will hurt small businesses in Oklahoma.
5. Explain that your biggest concern about this legislation is that it is a part of a demonstrated pattern by R.J. Reynolds to get bills introduced in state legislatures (including RI, NC, and OK) that seek to give the e-cigarette industry to large tobacco companies. The three major tobacco companies -- Philip Morris (PM), Reynolds, and Lorillard -- already have contracts with all licensed tobacco retailers for sales, prime display shelf space, discounts, advertisements and promotions -- while very few e-cigarette companies do.
6. Direct them to the CASAA.org website for more information.
Members of the South Carolina House Ways & Means Committee
Contacting members of the South Carolina Legislature is difficult because each message must be sent via webform. Please take the time to contact the members below to express your opposition. Please do not hesitate to call the members listed, especially if you are in South Carolina and they represent you or in a nearby district. If you get an answering machine, leave a civil message encouraging them to vote NO on H. 4074 and note some of the reasons listed above.
(H) Indicates home address and telephone numbers.
(C) Indicates Columbia address and telephone numbers (best way to reach out)
Rep. W. Brian White (R) [Committee Chairman] *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 6 Anderson Co.
(H) PO Box 970, Anderson, 29622
Bus.: (864) 260-4025
(C) 525 Blatt Bldg.Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3144
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1911363407/
Rep. Harry B. "Chip" Limehouse, III (R) [Committee 1st Vice-Chair)
Dist. No. 110 - Charleston County
(H) 22 Menotti St. Charleston, 29401
Bus.: (843) 577-6242 / Home: (843) 577-6242
(C) 326C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-2977 / Home: (803) 252-0845
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1089772596
Rep. Michael A. Pitts (R) [Committee 2nd Vice-Chair) *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 14 - Greenwood & Laurens Counties
(H) 372 Bucks Point Rd. Laurens, 29360
Bus.: (864) 681-0238 / Home: (864) 923-2925
(C) 327C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-2830
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1481533914
Rep. J. Roland Smith (R) [Committee 3rd Vice-Chair] *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 84 - Aiken County
(H) 183 Edgar St. Warrenville, 29851
Bus.: (803) 593-8987 / Home: (803) 593-2359
(C) 522B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3115
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1718181612
Rep. Merita A. "Rita" Allison (R) *BILL SPONSOR* (5/14/13 -- No longer a sponsor!)
Dist. No. 36 - Greenville & Spartanburg Counties
(H) P.O. Box 93 Lyman, 29365
Bus.: (864) 909-1092 / HOme: (864) 439-6255
(C) 402C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 212-6788
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=15909089
Rep. Liston D. Barfield (R)
Dist. No. 58 - Horry County
(H) P.O. Box 1734 Conway, 29528
Bus.: (843) 365-2049 / Home: (843) 365-2049
(C) 503A Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3107 / Home: (803) 771-8711
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=109090896
Rep. William "Bill" Clyburn (D)
Dist. No. 82 - Aiken, Edgefield & Saluda Counties
(H) 664 Edrie St. Aiken, 29801
Home: (803) 649-6167
(C) 416C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3033
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=363636320
Rep. Tracy R. Edge (R)
Dist. No. 104 - Horry County
(H) P.O. Box 2095 Myrtle Beach, 29578
Bus.: (843) 448-5123 / Home: (843) 361-2827
(C) 503B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3013
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=521590847
Rep. William G. "Bill" Herbkersman (R) *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 118 - Beaufort & Jasper Counties
(H) 896 May River Rd. Bluffton, 29910-5833
Bus.: (843) 757-7900 / Home: (843) 757-5424
(C) 308B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3063
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=832954446
Rep. Chip Huggins (R)
Dist. No. 85 - Lexington County
(H) 308 Wayworth Court Columbia, 29212
Bus.: (803) 732-2000 / Home: (803) 732-4418
(C) 323B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-2971 / Cellphone: (803) 331-8468
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=897727165
Rep. James H. Merrill (R)
Dist. No. 99 - Berkeley & Charleston Counties
(H) 2401 Daniel Island Dr. Charleston, 29492
Bus.: (843) 849-7307 / Home: (843) 849-7306
(C) 308C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3072
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1323863478
Rep. Harry L. Ott, Jr. (D) *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 93 - Calhoun, Lexington & Orangeburg Counties
(H) 141 Ott Farm Trail St. Matthews, 29135
Home: (803) 874-1042
(C) 335B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-2998
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1432954374
Rep. B. R. Skelton (R)
Dist. No. 3 - Pickens County
(H) 2962 Walhalla Hwy. Six Mile, 29682
Home: (864) 868-3495
(C) 418C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3036 / Home: (864) 868-3495
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1698579342
Rep. Garry R. Smith (R)
Dist. No. 27 - Greenville County
(H) 210 Foxhound Rd. Simpsonville, 29680
Bus.: (864) 963-0337 / Home: (864) 963-0337
(C) 534 Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3141
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1703977069
Rep. William R. "Bill" Whitmire (R)
Dist. No. 1 - Oconee County
(H) P.O. Box 157 Walhalla, 29691
Bus.: (864) 638-2970 / Home: (864) 638-2970
(C) 436C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3068
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1914204316
Rep. J. Roland Smith (R)
Dist. No. 84 - Aiken County
(H) 183 Edgar St. Warrenville, 29851
Bus.: (803) 593-8987 / Home: (803) 593-2359
(C) 522B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3115
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1718181612
Rep. Michael A. "Mike" Anthony (D)
Dist. No. 42 - Laurens & Union Counties
(H) 322 Mt. Vernon Rd. Union, 29379
Home: (864) 427-3023
(C) 432D Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3060
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=38636359
Rep. Kenneth A. "Kenny" Bingham (R) *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 89 - Lexington County
(H) P.O. Box 2025 Cayce, 29171
Bus.: (803) 796-9300 / Home: (803) 796-3582
(C) 519B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3114
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=143181801
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D) *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 66 - Orangeburg County
(H) 4188 Five Chop Rd. Orangeburg, 29115
Bus.: (803) 534-2448 / Home: (803) 531-1257
(C) 309C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-2809
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=372727228
Rep. Jackie E. "Coach" Hayes (D)
Dist. No. 55 - Darlington, Dillon, Horry & Marlboro Counties
(H) 240 Bermuda Rd. Dillon, 29536
Bus.: (843) 841-3679 / Home: (843) 774-6125
(C) 333D Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3099
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=802272631
Rep. Lonnie Hosey (D)
Dist. No. 91 - Allendale, Barnwell & Orangeburg Counties
(H) P.O. Box 423 Barnwell, 29812
Home: (803) 259-1178
(C) 404B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-2829
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=874999895
Rep. Dwight A. Loftis (R)
Dist. No. 19 - Greenville County
(H) P.O. Box 14784 Greenville, 29610
Home: (864) 834-5760
(C) 522C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3101
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1111363503
Rep. Joseph H. "Joe" Neal (D)
Dist. No. 70 - Richland & Sumter Counties
(H) P.O. Box 5 Hopkins, 29061
Home: (803) 776-0353
(C) 309B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Home: (803) 734-2804
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1402272559
Rep. J. Gary Simrill (R) *BILL SPONSOR*
Dist. No. 46 - York County
(H) 1515 Alexander Rd. Rock Hill, 29732
Bus.: (803) 366-0445 / Home: (803) 328-8089
(C) 518C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3040
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1697727069
Rep. G. Murrell Smith, Jr. (R) *BILL SPONSOR*
District 67 - Sumter County
(H) P.O. Box 580 Sumter, 29151
Bus.: (803) 778-2471 / Home
803) 469-4416
(C) 420B Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3042
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1703408887
Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis (D)
District 119 - Charleston County
(H) P.O. Box 30099 Charleston, 29417
Bus.: (843) 724-1060 / Home: (843) 573-0491
(C) 420C Blatt Bldg. Columbia, 29201
Bus.: (803) 734-3039
Contact: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1747727063
