tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31542241914297837302011-04-21T14:55:20.843-05:00Dedicated to maintaining the freedoms of cigar smokers to enjoy cigars.cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.comBlogger121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-54816418047476939332007-08-08T10:13:00.000-05:002007-08-08T10:20:31.198-05:00

They’re at it again. Our U.S. Senate began the discussion about tobacco tax increases, “for children’s health care” no less, with the pronouncement that federal taxes would be increased from the current $0.05 per cigar to as much as $10.00 per cigar. This, of course, was all part of the cigarette tax increase which is always a favorite since cigarette smokers simply curl up in the corner and

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-18055497735913081402007-06-25T13:22:00.000-05:002007-06-25T13:24:40.077-05:00

The movement to ban smoking is rampant in many states. It is, as we’ve pointed out, easy for people to attack cigarette smokers because they have been made to feel guilty about themselves and their second-hand smoke. The typical cigarette smoker simply goes on about his or her business, but never seems to even think about fighting off the bans.Cigar smokers have had their right to smoke in

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-33607051833668450822007-06-11T14:15:00.000-05:002007-06-11T14:20:55.660-05:00

An effort to cap the OTP (Other Tobacco Products) tax at the present 25% died on an 8-8 party line vote last Friday.The votes for were cast by:Rep. Kitty RhoadesRep. Jeff StoneRep. Steve KestellRep. Scott SuderRep. Dan MeyerRep. Robin VosSen. Alberta DarlingSen. Luther OlsonThe votes against came from:Sen. Russ DeckerSen. Dave HansonSen. Bob JauchSen. John LehmanSen. Lena TaylorSen. Mark

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-64539529049888932162007-06-03T12:24:00.000-05:002007-06-03T12:40:26.618-05:00

The National Cancer Institute has a wealth of information regarding smoking. It has commissioned studies over time that probably form the bulk of our knowledge on the subject.NCI monograph #9 is quite interesting since it deals with the issue of first hand smoke for both cigarettes as well as cigars. We can see their conclusions about first hand cigar smoke and the statistical rates of death per

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-19503649922888164862007-06-03T07:42:00.000-05:002007-06-03T07:43:56.861-05:00

An Associated Press story this morning prompts me to realize I’ve never understood the language of our trade restrictions on the purchase or smoking of Cuban cigars.The “Governator” (Gov. Schwarzenegger) was featured as having potentially broken the U.S. trade sanction against Cuban cigars when he not only purchased one in Canada, but had the unmitigated gall to actually smoke the darned thing.I

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-51041506804279298422007-06-01T15:36:00.000-05:002007-06-01T15:40:21.319-05:00

The Senate Committee hearing yesterday on SB150 generated a lot of heat according to reports. Senator Risser, D-Madison, and Rep. Wieckert, R-Appleton, were the heavy lifters for this proposed bill that would eliminate smoking in all workplaces, including the smoking lounges of tobacconists.Risser stated that “society” had the obligation of protecting workers from second-hand smoke, and Wieckert

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-16375900358445362852007-05-30T15:32:00.000-05:002007-05-30T15:34:09.126-05:00

Please take a couple of minutes to read and electronically sign our petition to be sent to the members of Wisconsin’s Senate and Assembly concerning SB150. If not properly amended and passed, SB150 would eliminate smoking lounges in tobacconists’ locations across the state. Click on the link under "Favorite Links".The first hearing on this Bill occurs on Thursday, May 31st. Testimony will be

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-8600760255077880652007-05-28T10:23:00.000-05:002007-05-28T10:24:42.598-05:00

You need to read this. Click on the link.

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-45505312026331028592007-05-27T08:51:00.000-05:002007-05-27T08:57:51.462-05:00

In a recent Shepherd Express article, Lisa Kaiser authored an article titled “Enacting a Statewide Smoking Ban”. In preparing that article, she obtained information concerning the position of area representatives which I paraphrased in the following recitation:In support of the Statewide Ban:Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) (a co-sponsor): stated support based upon the safety of workersRep.

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-2765217652374850762007-05-27T07:29:00.000-05:002007-05-27T07:56:09.327-05:00

The Senate Committee involved with SB150 that would ban smoking in cigar lounges offered by tobacconists will conduct a hearing on May 31st.The Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Privacy Committee will convene in Executive Session at 9:30AM in Room 411-S. Upon conclusion or at 1:00PM they will hear testimony on SB150. Testimony will be limited to 5 minutes.The Committee members and

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-37580357852518860162007-05-26T16:50:00.000-05:002007-05-26T16:53:33.669-05:00

Causing people who frequent cigar stores to be unable to smoke that product in those stores is hypocritical, at best.It is understandable that someone might be offended when they walk into a bar for a beer and are “accosted” by smoke.I cannot imagine that anyone who walks into a cigar store was ever similarly taken unawares! We walk in knowing precisely what it is we’re doing. We stay there to

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154224191429783730.post-13733137361008548772007-05-26T08:36:00.000-05:002007-05-26T08:43:37.193-05:00

Those of us who enjoy cigars have come under some pretty intense scrutiny as a byproduct of the movement that would see the use of legal tobacco products severely restricted.Those restrictions take the form of Governor Doyle’s proposed budget to increase the tax on cigars by something in the range of 125%. The budget debate is ongoing in the Joint Finance Committee where republicans and

cigarcurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961275059233466230noreply@blogger.com0