Florida Key Vote Alert: Vote YES on SB 398

April 22, 2021 
To: Members of the Florida House of Representatives   
From: Americans for Tax Reform 
 
Dear Representative INSERT LAST NAME HERE,

On behalf of Americans for Tax Reform and our supporters across The Sunshine State, I urge you to vote in favor of good government and to vote YES on H 987.

H 987 will safeguard the state’s revenue base, ensure appropriate transparency and accountability over decisions that impact on public health, and would protect Florida businesses and consumers from harmful taxes and regulations imposed by local governments on reduced harm tobacco alternatives. 

It is the fundamental responsibility of state governments to protect their citizens. In the instance of tobacco harm reduction policies, local government officials act without the degree of scrutiny and accountability found at the state level. Similarly, lacking the expertise in healthcare policy, local restrictions and levies may act contrary to the overwhelming science and data that clearly illustrate e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes. E-cigarettes have also been proven to be more than twice as effective at helping adults quit the deadly habit of cigarette smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapies like nicotine patches and gum. 

This is a matter better addressed at the state, rather than local, level as restricting the use of e-cigarettes and vapor products would lead to further strains on the state budget due to the healthcare costs incurred by people prevented from using them to quit smoking. Further, local bans on products would lead to an increase in smuggling and the sale of illicit products, adversely affecting state tax collections while increasing criminal activity. 

“Local control” is, at its core, about safeguarding individual liberties and restricting the growth of government. It is not a free pass for cities to do as they please when localities are just as capable of being conduits for heavy-handed laws that harm citizens. In these instances, state action is not only appropriate to safeguard freedoms – it is essential! 

According to Georgetown University Medical Center, e-cigarettes could save over 435,000 lives in Florida if a majority of smokers made the switch to vaping. H 987 preserves the ability of Floridians to access these lifesaving products. As such, in the interests of protecting consumers and businesses, ensuring state tax collections are not depressed by local regulations, and improving public health, we call on you to support this legislation. 

Americans for Tax Reform supports H 987 and urges you to vote YES! 

Sincerely, 
Grover Norquist 
President 
Americans for Tax Reform 

 

Note: A similar Key Vote Alert was sent to all members of the Florida Senate urging them to support S 1080