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Obama Proposes Federal Tax Increase on Tobacco

Saludos,
Greetings freedom fighters. We just received an email from IPCPR that informs us that Obama has called for an increase in Federal taxes on all tobacco. Read the details of the email below.
Until the next post, siempre fumando,
Habana Port
Thanks to Thomas Briant and our counterparts at NATO for the following:
Obama Budget Proposes $.94 Per Pack Federal Cigarette Tax Increase and Proportionate Increase in All OTP Tax Rates
Today, President Obama delivered to Congress his administration’s proposed budget that includes a $.94 per pack increase in the federal cigarette tax rate and an increase in all other tobacco tax rates by a similar proportion. This means that the Obama Administration’s proposal would raise the federal cigarette tax to $1.95 per pack (a 93% increase in the cigarette tax) and a similar proportionate increase in the tax rates on cigars, pipe tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco products. If enacted into law by Congress, these cigarette and tobacco tax increases would go into effect on January 1, 2014.
These proposed cigarette and tobacco tax increases are estimated to raise $78 billion over the next ten years to fund the President’s initiative to extend preschool education to all four year olds from families with low to moderate incomes.
Below is the language from President Obama’s 2014 Budget Submission to Congress that summarizes the proposed cigarette and tobacco tax increases. The actual proposed tax rates are not referenced in the summary. NATO will update members as soon as the proposed tax rates on other tobacco products are announced by the Administration.
Increase tobacco taxes and index for inflation
Under current law, cigarettes are taxed at a rate of $50.33 per 1,000 cigarettes. This is equivalent to just under $1.01 per pack, or approximately $22.88 per pound of tobacco. Taxes on other tobacco products range from $0.5033 per pound for chewing tobacco to $24.78 per pound of roll your-own tobacco.
The Administration proposes to increase the tax on cigarettes to $97.65 per 1,000 cigarettes, or about $1.95 per pack, increase all other tobacco taxes by about the same proportion, and index the taxes for inflation after 2014. The Administration also proposes to clarify that roll-your-own tobacco includes any processed tobacco that is removed for delivery to anyone other than a manufacturer of tobacco products or exporter. The rate increases would be effective for articles held for sale or removed after December 31, 2013.
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IPCPR announces Introduction of H.R. 792 to Protect Cigars from FDA

Saludos,

Greetings, patriots of pipes and premium cigars. Yesterday we received this email from the IPCPR, our trade association who represents the premium cigar industry and helps our lobbying efforts to protect our small family-oriented industry. Read the details of this historic event and do your part to help us in protecting our small cigar shops.

International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association 
Announces H. R. 792 
Protecting Premium Cigars from FDA Regulation

On Friday, February 15, 2013, alongside twelve bi-partisan co-sponsors, Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced H.R. 792, the ‘‘Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2013.” This legislation is a crucial step forward in protecting the premium cigar retail industry from undue regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aiming “[t]o amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction over certain tobacco products, and to protect jobs and small businesses involved in the sale, manufacturing and distribution of traditional and premium cigars.”
Much like the bill we supported last Congress, this legislation defines premium cigars and exempts them from unjustifiable FDA regulation. Without this measure, the FDA could permanently ban in-person sales, walk-in humidors, and seasonal blends. H.R. 792 would protect these freedoms and keep the government away from premium cigars! On Friday, February 15, 2013, alongside twelve bi-partisan co-sponsors, Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced H.R. 792, the ‘‘Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2013.” This legislation is a crucial step forward in protecting the premium cigar retail industry from undue regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aiming “[t]o amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction over certain tobacco products, and to protect jobs and small businesses involved in the sale, manufacturing and distribution of traditional and premium cigars.”
The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) fully supports these efforts, and we encourage all members to contact their Representatives in support. During the 112th Congress, our advocacy outreach energized 221 bi-partisan co-sponsors – with your help, we can increase that number!
Let your voice be heard! Contact your legislator here and urge them to support H.R. 792!
Until the next post, siempre fumando, 
Habana Port
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Ernesto Padilla Interview

Saludos,

Greetings, fans of Habana Port! Check out this YouTube video we published of an interview with Ernesto Padilla, founder and owner of Padilla Cigars. He stopped by our shop Tuesday on his way to the 2011 IPCPR Cigar Trade Show which will be in Las Vegas next week and we interviewed him about his line of cigars, his company and new cigars to be debuted. Check this video out and our YouTube channel for other videos.

We proudly carry Padilla cigars. For more information about this great line of cigars go to his official website.

Until the next post, siempre fumando,
Habana Port

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IPCPR Trade Show & Convention 2010

Saludos,

Greetings, friends of Habana Port. In today’s post, we at Habana Port wanted to report on last week’s 78th Annual IPCPR Trade Show & Convention that occurred at the Convention Center in New Orleans, LA on August 9 – 13, 2010.

For those who are not aware, the IPCPR (short for International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association) is the trade group that represents premium cigar and pipe retailers. This organization is a major force in our beloved industry. This is text from their website that discusses the who, what, when, where, why and how about IPCPR:

The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association is a not-for-profit trade association organized as the advocate for the independent retail tobacconist and recognized as the “Voice of Authority and Reason” on premium tobacco related issues.

The IPCPR:

1. provides its members with assistance to fight repressive and onerous tobacco legislation at all levels.

2. acts as the conduit to bring manufacturers and retailers together in mutually advantageous business relations.

3. makes available for its members information on resources, market data, research, services and product information which will help in the profitable operations of their businesses.

Since 1933, the IPCPR has been the leading association for the retail tobacconist, dedicated to protecting the interests of its members, keeping them informed about the industry and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

We at Habana Port attended this year’s convention to open accounts with cigar and pipe manufacturers and to place our initial orders. We attended a few seminars, made the CRA‘s “Great American Cigar Shops” group, had another CRT certification through Tobacconist University and saw old friends and made new ones. This is the time of year the majority of new products are unveiled as well. We had the chance to sample these new releases and we are happy to inform our customers that we will offer many of these new gems. Come back to our blog to see the new cigars and pipes coming our way!

All in all, this was a productive show for us and we know our customers will benefit from our attendance.

Enjoy a few of the pictures we took while at IPCPR.
What a pipe selection from Nording, the famous Danish pipe maker.
Hanging with Erik Nording & son behind Nording’s famous “large pipe made of pipes.”
Our newest CRT posing with Jorge and Chris from TU.
Our shop owner posing with Dion and Jimmy of Illusione.

Until the next post, siempre fumando,Habana Port

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Habana Port on CigarFriendly.us

Saludos,

Greetings, friends of Habana Port! Today we want to share with you a great cigar informational website called CigarFriendly.us.
This site is a valuable resource for those who want to find establishments that permit cigar smoking. This is cool because they have each place of interest categorized by what they are. Here are the different categories:
  1. Restaurants
  2. Brick and Mortars (that’s what we are)
  3. Bars
  4. Clubs
  5. Lounge
  6. Recreational
  7. Casinos
  8. Hotels & Resorts
CigarFriendly.us also shows whether each spot is certified as a CRA Great American Shop, IPCPR member and/or CRT (which we all are except for CRA but we’ll register with them soon). It’s tough to find a great spot to smoke a cigar. Where do you go? Now CigarFriendly.us can lead you the way and Habana Port is on there as well! Click here to view our full listing.
You can follow CigarFriendly.us on Twitter by clicking here.

Until the next post, siempre fumando,