Thursday, January 29 2009
By Chris McCalla
Legislative Director,
IPCPR.org
There is a slight difference in the tax cap between the House and Senate Bills:
The House proposes a maximum tax on large cigars of 40 (forty) cents per cigar. The Senate's version of the SCHIP bill calls for a 40.26 cent cap.
The floor stocks (inventory) tax on large cigars (including premium), remains out of both SCHIP proposals. This provision was stricken earlier (2007) in the SCHIP fight.
According to Patton Boggs and Public Strategies, IPCPR's federal lobbyists, they do not expect there to be a formal conference but a "leadership deal" struck between the two chambers. The House is recessed until Tuesday so they expect that will be the day the differences are resolved between the two bills.
The RYO product has a very tough road with no champions and various groups "taking shots at them." Additionally, our lobbyists tell us that "The White House is really pushing to get their hands on this."
As more news develops, we will share it with all of you. £
