PACT Act of 2009 - S. 1147

[dupee419]

I just closed the petition.

Thank you to all who signed. It managed 34 signatures in approx. 10 days.

Now for the fun part, delivering the letter to each signers rep.

[Tristik]

~~
I just thought I would add to this thread the cookie-cutter response I got from Senator Kohl regarding letting his office know my feelings about the act:

Dear Mr. XXXXXXX:



Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I value the correspondence I get from people back home in Wisconsin, and welcome the opportunity to address your concerns.



I appreciate knowing your thoughts regarding the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009, which I introduced on May 21st to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to crack down on black market tobacco selling. Cigarette smuggling is a multibillion dollar a year phenomenon, and it is getting worse. Cigarette trafficking, including the illegal sale of tobacco products over the internet, costs states billions of dollars in lost tax revenue each year. It is estimated that states lose $5 billion in revenues due to illegal tobacco sales.



As you may know, cigarette trafficking has also developed into a popular, and highly profitable, means of generating revenue for criminal and terrorist organizations. In addition, illicit cigarette trafficking is a major activity of organized crime. In 1998, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) had six active tobacco smuggling investigations. In 2005, that number swelled to 452. Today there are more than 400 open cases. Illegal tobacco vendors around the world evade detection by conducting transactions over the internet, and then shipping their illegal products throughout the United States to consumers. Just a few years ago, there were fewer than 100 vendors selling cigarettes online. Today, approximately 500 vendors sell illegal tobacco products over the internet.



The PACT Act would combat such unlawful activities by expanding and improving law enforcement's oversight of interstate cigarette trafficking. The legislation would prohibit the United States Postal Service from delivering tobacco products, and increase the criminal penalty for illegal cigarette trafficking from a misdemeanor to a felony. The bill would also create a substantial civil penalty for violations, including violations of cigarette sale reporting requirements and state tobacco tax laws.



Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please feel free to do so in the future.

~~

[tom502]

This is why General(SM, and others if possible) needs to pack their snus in a sealed foil bag inside the can, and get them on the racks next to Redman and Longhorn.

[rammstein84]

Well, Sage, you were right, a smoke shop 5 minutes away started carrying General, here's hoping they carry other kinds eventually, but for the time being, just General is fine by me.

[sagedil]

Swedish Match is getting prepared. They are working on soon making a larger variety available.

It all comes down to having the other stuff packaged with the warning labels required in the US. Biggest reason why Getsnus still has such a sucky variety. Folks don't realize what a pain this is, especially as we are a tiny market, juts so much harder to manage tow completely separate inventory levels. They make too much with the new labels, it gets old and everyone bitches.

But.....should the worst happen, Swedish Match, at the very least, will step up to the plate.

But I am most glad you are feeling better about things rammstein84

[tom502]

It would probably be a good and cheaper if snus brands made their labels to include international warning labels already, being they know they get exported.

[sagedil]

Perhaps, if our market grows big enough, be kinda like the Canadians with everything in both English and French.

Of course, knowing how stupid our laws can be, there is probably something in there that doesn't allow anything not specifically prescribed.

[Tin Man]

It all comes down to having the other stuff packaged with the warning labels required in the US. Biggest reason why Getsnus still has such a sucky variety. Folks don't realize what a pain this is, especially as we are a tiny market, juts so much harder to manage tow completely separate inventory levels. They make too much with the new labels, it gets old and everyone bitches.

Do the warnings have to be printed right on the labels? I've been getting cans from getsnus with warning stickers on them.

On second thought, anything removable probably isn't good enough.

[sagedil]

I don't know really. But the SM folks have talked about this being an issue. Stickers seem real easy to me.

[chossy]

When you order in the U.S do you get cans with warningtext in english? I guess you need them when sold locally. but for privately imported items I would think it´s not required.

[tom502]

The US made General snus have the warning printed on their label.

[sagedil]

When you order in the U.S do you get cans with warningtext in english? I guess you need them when sold locally. but for privately imported items I would think it´s not required.

Stuff that is ordered from Sweden has Swedish warnings. It is imported "privately" so OK.

But anything SOLD from the US, must have US warnings. SO both any snus bought in local tobacco shop, or any snus ordered from gGetsnus who ships from the US, must have the US warnings.

Another small and stupid reason I really don't like yo order from Getsnus, I just think the required US labels are dumb and ugly.

[BardicDruid]

Almost Gone

Dunno what everyone getting excited about this for, it's actually on the roster twice. The first is S. 1147 and then again as H.R. 1676, both have passed the House but are setting on a shelve in the Senate. According to GovTrac.us both have been read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. After checking their agendas neither are even listed to be reviewed this session. So when the session ends, they both die.

[Northerner.com]

I heard a bird wispered in my ear that the PACT will not be signed by the House this year because of other bigger issues with the new Health Plan. The earliest will be in 2010...

[MojoQuestor]

Suddenly I feel better about things. Must be because it's Tuesday.