E-cig

The Daily Caller published an op-ed written by Americans for Tax Reform state affairs manager Paul Blair, detailing his experiences at The World Vapor Expo and Electronic Cigarette Show.

Earlier this year the FDA announced that they would be considering a new set of regulations for the e-cigarette and vapor industry over the next year or so. Among the list of possibilities includes requiring standardization of the products, a disclosure of ingredients, and mandated childproofing. It may also require proof that the new products present a public health benefit before being approved. At a minimum, the FDA could codify the definition of these products similar to that of Other Tobacco Products, or OTPs as they’re known in many state tax classification laws. This last regulation presents the biggest danger. These products are not OTPs; in fact, many of the juices contain no nicotine whatsoever. It should be common sense that similar to the nicotine patch, these smoking cessation devices are not remotely similar to snuff, pipe tobacco, roll your own cigarettes, etc. Unfortunately for the FDA, when they tried to ban them as “drug-device combination products” in 2009, a federal court shut them down.

Chloe Johnson of the Washington Times wrote an article regarding the upcoming fight to prevent reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.

Critics like the Heritage Foundation, however, say Ex-Im loans are a form of “corporate welfare” and that the bank, established by President Roosevelt in 1934, should be abolished. Americans for Tax Reform is one of 30 groups, also including Heritage, that recently signed a letter to Congress opposing reauthorization.

“The Export-Import Bank gives politically-backed corporations billions in taxpayer-subsidized loans, distorting global markets and making us less competitive at home,” said John Kartch, spokesman for Americans for Tax Reform.

An article by The Economist’s editorial staff noted ideological changes within the Republican party.

With its three mainstays weakened, the party has rallied around a new set of ideas. At their core is the belief that no tax increase is ever acceptable. Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform notes delightedly that, though not every congressional Republican has signed the pledge he promotes not to raise taxes, as a group they remain allergic to all such increases.