NEIGHBORHOOD STORE ASSOCIATION
Spring 2007
Vol. 9 No. 1
E-mail Your Legislator
http://www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/
To send an e-mail message, to the one Senator and one Representative who represent your district, click on the above web address; enter your name, address, and a brief message.
List of e-mail addresses for all members of the Oregon House of Representatives.
List of e-mail addresses for all members of the Oregon Senate.
Important Points:
It is important to personalize your message, as much as possible. Tell your legislator, who you are, where your business is located, and why you are writing.
Healthy Kids plan is contained in House Bill 2201.
• The proposed cigarette tax increase of 84.5 cents per pack represents a 71% tax increase.
• Cigarette taxes only apply to approximately 1/5 of Oregon's population and unfairly target the lower income citizens.
• Current estimates of revenue for the State of Oregon over the next biennium 2007-2009 indicate the State will receive $2 billion more than anticipated.
• If the Healthy Kids program is determined to be important, then it should be funded with General Fund dollars.
Sample Letter
To make the biggest impact, do not copy the letter exactly, but include your personal comments about how the tax increase would affect you, your business and your employees. Copy text by highlighting text, hold down the control key(Ctrl) and press the letter "C". Then open your e-mail program, place the cursor in the correct spot and use Ctrl-V which will paste the text.
Dear Representative/ Senator ,
I am the owner of ( business ) located in your district at ( address ). I employ ( ) workers from our area and have been in business ( ) years.
Insert data on how much you pay in business taxes, property taxes, and type of healthcare you provide for employees.
I am writing to you to express my opposition to the proposed tobacco tax increases included in HB 2201. I believe the Healthy Kids Plan is a worthy plan, but raising cigarette and other tobacco taxes to fund the plan is not a wise decision.
Retailers rely on the sale of cigarettes to maintain a profit. Our store already faces fierce competition from tribal smoke shops, Internet sales, and illegal sales. If the proposed tax increase of 84.5 cents per pack is added, our sales will plummet. In addition, smokers who come into my store generally purchase other items along with their cigarettes, such as pop, water, gum, etc. Not only will I be losing the sale of the cigarettes, but sales of these items as well.
Make realistic predictions about the impact that the tax increase would have on your business and emphasize that using General Fund dollars to support the Healthy Kids program is a more stable, long-term option for the program.
Because the Oregon Healthy Kids plan is an important program, legislators should look to other, more stable funding sources. Cigarette taxes are not reliable. Consumption has decreased and the taxed, legal sales in Oregon have decreased in recent years.
The State of Oregon is expecting an additional $2 billion dollars in tax receipts during the next biennium. I ask that you and your fellow legislators not single out the neighborhood store industry to carry the burden of funding the Healthy Kids Plan; but, instead, consider using General Fund dollars.
Thank you for your consideration.
Owner Name
Address
Cigarette Tax heads the list of 2007 Legislative Issues
Talking Points for HB 2201 — Healthy Kids Program and proposed Tobacco Tax Increase
Store Owners—
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