Florida State Senate Bill 1840

[CIgar Lover]

Florida residents - SB 1840 will be voted on this week and it looks like it might get passed by the senate. If so it will head over to the House where it seems to have a little more resistance, but by the look of it the bill is something that we need to be proactive against. If any Florida resident would like to have the phone numbers of the Florida Senators to call and voice your opinions against this bill please call the offices of Perdomo at 305-627-6700and ask for Daisy and we will fax the numbers over to you. Any and all calls against this moronic bill will be appreciated by the entire smoking community. This bill, IF it passes, will not effect just the residents of Florida, but the entire country. The provisions of the bill state that the "surcharge (taxes)" is to be paid by a manufacturer bringing in product to the state of Florida. Well all of us manufacturers bring in our product to the state of Florida (save a very small handful located outside of Florida). Therefore all of us will have to pay the tax.

Our hope is to get the provision of cigars out of the bill altogether and hopefully Gov. Crist will have it taken out. He has said that he is not in favor of alienating the strong republican cigar portion of the state and hopefully if this thing lands on his desk he puts a big fat red X on it.

Thanks everyone and let your voices be heard!

Jeff Owens
National Accounts Manager
Tabacalera Perdomo