Tobacco Documents Online

Honorable Matthew G. Martlnez, U.S. House of Representatives WashlnEton, D.C. 20515 Dear Honorable Matthe~ G. Martlnez, M.C.~ As a concerned employee of the Tobacco Industry, I am ~rltlng you this letter in regards to pending legislation to BAN.SMOKING on board all Commercial Aircraft. I feel that such a ban would be unwarranted and inappropriate for many reasons| Among them: o Smoking aboard aircraft is already sharply restricted o Every person is guaranteed a "non-smoklng" seat -even if a smoking seetlon must be reduced or eliminated to stalsfy that guarantee.. A smoking ban would pose serious compliance problems~ and significant administrative and practical problems for airlines and passengers allke. Some say, "aircraft smokers may present a fire hazard in the skies". But, according to Natlonal Transprotatlon Safety Board Records, since 197Q, ~ot a s~le airline £~re has been determined to have been smokln~ .re~ated... We in the Tobacco' Industry feel that the antl-tobacco forces have pushed to hard with efforts to destro the Tobacco Industry and the Jobs it provldes~ and an individuals rights --to smoke. Your time and attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated. Slncerely, Chris A. Cho~rning Lorillard Tobacco Company Sales Representative CAC:sc T!004~-0874

T10045-0875

Septen~ber 25, 1987 Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, U.S.S. U. S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Bentsen: As a smoker, I am opposed to the smoking ban on" airlines on flights of two hours or less which has been passed by the House. I hope the Senate will take into consideration the rights of all people. It is difficult for me to understand why one segment of the tax payers have to take all the abuse of not only having rights taken away from us but also having to pay over our share of taxes. Please vote "no" on the smoking ban. Sincerely, C. R. Bramle~ bc: B. W. Sanford Stan Boman., Tob~a~c~._~.IA.s~itute../" T!0045-0876

September 30, 1987 Senator Phil Gramm, U.S.S. U. S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Gramm: I am writing to you in opposition of the bill to ban smoking on all airline flights of less than two hours. There are very few flights in t~±s country that are two hours or more in length. I am making four flights out of Lubbock, TX between now and December 31 -- one to St. Louis, one to Oklahoma City, one to Kouston, and one to Sioux Falls. All of these are round trip flights, and none last over two hours due to the scheduling of the air lines. Every survey that has been done indicates the ~ajority of the people who fly are happy with the present situation with smoking and non-smokinq sections. Only a few anti- smoking zealots are creating a fuss. I would hope you would vote against this measure. Sincerely, /~ .~~ellestad 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc : B. W. Sanford .S~9 Bomanf.~he Ti004~-0877

September 30, 1987 Senator Phil Gramm, U.S.S. U. S. Sellate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Gra~n: I am writing to you in opposition of the current bill before Congress to double the excise tax on cigarettes. In 1983, a temporary measure was passed with a sunset clause to double the taxes. 'As you are aware, this became a permanent law in 1986. I feel this places an unfair burden on the people who use this product. It is justified simply because smoking is unpopular in some circles. What is needed in this country is not more taxes but less spending. Rather than promoting pet projects and pay increases that benefit the people who pass them, we need to tighten our belts and be fair to all segments of the population. One thing you must remember is that all segments of the population vote and pay taxes. I hope that you will vote against this measure. Sincerely, T. ~/. ~'j el les tad 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc: B. W. Sanford S£an Boman, The Tobac~_.~%~.~e~,~~-~ T!004,~-0878

Septen~er 30, 1987 llonorable Larry Co~nbest, M.C. U. S. IIous~ o£ lh.'prese,ltatives Washington I DC 20515 Dear Mr. Con~est: Y am writing to you in opposit±on of the current bill before Congress to double the excise tax on cigarettes. In 1983, a temporary measure was passed with a sunset clause to double the taxes. As you are aware, this became a permanent law in 1986. I feel this places an unfair burden on the people who use this product. It is justified simply because smoking is unpopular ±n some circles. What is needed in this country is not more taxes but less spending. Rather than promoting pet projects and pay incruasus that ~benefit the people who pass them, we need to tighten our belts and be fair to all segments of the ~opulation. One thing you must remember is that all segments of the population vote and pay taxes. hope that you will vote against this measure. Sincere ly, • T. L. Fjellestad 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc; B. W. Sanford Stan Boman, The Tobacco Institut~J TI0045-0879

September 30, 1987 Honorable Larry Combest, M.C. U. S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr, Combest: i am writing to you in opposition of the bill to ban smoking on all airline flights of less than two hours. There are ve.ry few flights in this country :that are two hours or more in length. I am making four flights out of Lubbock, TX between now and December 31 -- one to St. Louis, one to Oklahoma City, one to Houston, and one to Sioux Falls. All of these are round trip flights, and none last over two hours due to the scheduling of the air" lines. Every survey that has been don~ indicates the majority of the people who fly" are happy with the present situation with smoking and non-smoking sections. Only a few anti- smoking zealots are creating a fuss. I would hope you would vote against this measure. Sincerely, ~ ~.~,, /'~; ('~"~ T. L./Fj~lestad 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc : B. W. Sanford Stan Boman, The Tobacco Institute/ TI0045-0880

September 30, 1987 Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, U.S.S. U. S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Bentsen: I am writing to you in opposition of the bill to ban smoking on all airline flights of less than two hours. There are very few flights in this country that are two hours or more in length. I am making four flights out of Lubbock, TX between now and December 31 -- one to St. Louis, one to Oklahoma City, one to Houston, and one to Sioux Falls. All of these are round trip flights, and none last over two hours due to the scheduling of the air lines. Every survey that has been done indicates the majority of the people who fly are happy with the present situation with smoking and kon-smoking sections. Only a few anti- smoking zealots are creating a fuss. would hope you would vote against this measure. Sincerely, 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc: -B. W. Sanford Start Boma~, ... The. ~obac~o~ns~tute.~, TI0045-0881

September 30, 1987 Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen U.S.S. U. S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Bentsen: I am writing to you in opposition of the current bill before Congress to double the excise tax on cigarettes. In 1983, a temporary measure was passed with a sunset clause to double the taxes. As you are aware, this became a permanent law in 1986. I feel this places an unfair burden on the people who use this product. It is justified simply because smoking is unpopular in some circles. What we need in this country is not more taxes but less spending. Rather than promoting pet projects and pay increases that benefit the people who pass them, we need to tighten our belts and be fair to all segments of the population. One thing you must remen~ber is that all segments of the population vote and pay taxes. I~hope that you will vote against this measure. Sincerely, Z/ [ /~. L~jellestad 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc: B~ W. Sanford Stan Bo~n, The TI0045-0882

September 30, 1987 Senator Tom Daschle, U.S.S. U. S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Duar Senator Daschle: Although I am no longer a resident of South Dakota, I am writing to you concerning two bills that have an effect on me and members of my family who still live in South Dakota. The first one is the proposed cigarette tax increase. It is not right to continually try to balance the budget on the backs of the people who smoke. Taxes such as this places an unfair burden on tax payers such as my parents, who still live in Mitchell. My father is on Social Security and my mother works part-time at the public library. The doubling of the excise tax affects them more than enyone because they are on fixed incomes. I would hope that you would vote against this measure because is affects all people in South Dakota due to the fact that income levels are far below national averages, The second hill is the bill to ban s~oking on all airline flights of less than two hours. There are very few flights in this country and many out of South Dakota that are two hours or more in length. I am making four flights out of Lubbock, TX between now and December 31 -- one to St. Louis, one to Oklahoma City, one to HOuston, and one to Sioux Falls. All of these are round trip flights, and none last over two hours due to the scheduling of the air lines. Every survey that has been done indicates the majority of the people who fly are happy with the present situation with smoking and non-smoking sections. Only a few anti-smoking zealots are creating a fuss. I would hope you would vote against this measure, also. .,~~,5.~3ellestad 5517 90th Lubbock, TX 79424 bc: B. W. Sanford Start Boman, The Tobacco Institute Ti004~-0883