Tobacco Documents Online

. . 8198 OBACCO NEWS CENTER . ~,A~/ Downtown ~of~sional Center TC , /~' 314 No. Last Chance Gulch s~i~ latt~s to Bauc~s n~ded September I, 1987 Helena, Mont~a 59~I from each ~ you--URGENTLYI Senato~ Max Baucus, --TomMadd~,~TC~ 706 Ha~t Senate 0ff~ce Building P.O. Box123 Wash~ngt0n, D. C. 20510 Hele~MT596~ Dear Senator: As you recall, Montana recently voted to increase cigarette sales tax to 16¢ a 20-pack and to 20¢ a 25-pack. Thus,Montanans now pay 32¢ and 40¢ state-federal tax for a pack of 20 or 25. In my small store I prepay several thousands of dollars a year in cigarette tax. If congress increased the federal cigarette tax to 32¢ a 20-pack, my customers would be paying 48¢ tax a 20-pack in state-federal tax or nearly $5 a carton. I would have to pay several thousands of dollars more. My customers are mostly lower and middle income people. Whatever congress may have saved them in personal income taxes with last year's tax reform act would be "taken back" by government if proposed increases are voted in the excise tax package. I know that you wish to take the best course in raising taxes. However, I do not understand why anyone would vote for increased excise tax on cigarettes which are declining in sales. Our latest figures from government show fully taxed, cigarette sales declined in Montana for this past fiscal year. I underline ful_~/~_y_taxed sales, Since Montana increased state tax in '82 fully~taxed sales have declined steadily. Sales of cigarettes by Indians and military stores, without the state tax, have increased substantially. These sales increase at a rapid rate due to the fact that more buying by the carton occurs; whereas ~ in my store nearly all cigarette sales are by the pack, not the carton. Another factor is that my cigarette sales are important because customers will also purchase other products they would not have purchased if they had not walked in for cigarettes. These additional sales items are significant~ I am certain that I need all the sales I can make to stay in business. I hope you will see my case as an example of your small business constituency in Montana. I hope that you will remember these facts and vote against another federal cigarette excise tax increase. ! believe there are further economies in government you can require to a point where no furthem special taxes on only certain people would be needed. Thank you for taking your valuable time to study my letter, and I would appreciate knowing your views. __ Sincerel ~ Gi~s, ~@, ~agaz~, Paperbacks, New~apers TI0045-0982

866 South Fifth Columbus, Oh. 432e6 August 21~ 1937 Senator John H. Glenn, GP., U.S,S, U.S, Senate Nashington, DC 2~518 Dear Senator ~lenn~ As you may already k, now, a smoking ban on flights or two hours or less.w~s passed in the House last month, ! feel that legislation to b~n smoking on board commercial ~iPcP~ft ~s unwarranted ~t this time ~nd inappropriate fop m~ny Persons. The purpose of ~his letter is to urge you to vote ~g~inst ~ny legisl~tion designed to ban smoking on board c~erci~l aircraft. SmoV, Ing aboard aircraft is already sharply restricted; every passenger is guaranteed a "no-smoP, ing" seat .- - eve~ if a smo~,ing section must be re'.~uced or eliminated to satisfy that guarantee. I am a non-smo;',er and have always found this to be the case. Another point to consider is the re~l concern of the Airline Pilots Association that smo~,Ing bans may create an on-board fire hazard~ by encouraglng "surreptitious smoY, ing"~ especially in lavatories. Imagine the compllance problems th=t could arJse in trying to curtail these "surreptitious" visits to the lavatory! I believe a smoking ban on aircraft is wrong ~nd unnecessary. Ple~se support my position by voting ~gainst any smoRing b~n legislation that comes up. ThanY, you for your support. Sincerely~ Ken B1 um TI0045-0983

FI~OM THE DESK OF R. H. ORCUTT September 8, 1987 TO: Mr. Roger Mozingo Attached letter is for your information. RHO:vt attach. Richard H. Orcutt T!0045-0984