| The bi-partisan coalition of twelve U.S. Senators from ten states is growing, as the joint effort to ward off the heavy hand of the federal government from cigars continues the march forward, with the addition of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire joining as a co-sponsor of S. 1461.Senator Ayotte was the first woman to ever serve as Attorney General of New Hampshire, having been appointed to that position by both Democrat and Republican governors. She is a key member of the Armed Serves, Commerce, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship committees, having served in the Senate since 2010.
David Garofalo, of Two Guys Smoke Shop and the Cigar Association of New Hampshire, commended Senator Ayotte for joining S. 1461 as a co-sponsor. He stated, “Senator Ayotte may be relatively new to the U.S. Senate, but her leadership on this and related measures to protect New Hampshire ‘s small business community is outstanding. She states clearly and publicly that she intends to use her platform on the Senate Small Business committee to ‘eliminate red tape so that businesses can better compete.’ She’s certainly being true to her word by assisting with this legislation.” New Hampshire also has as champions for the cause of Cigar Democracy each of their members in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Charles Bass and Congressman Frank Guinta each serve as co-sponsors of H.R. 1639, the companion legislation to S. 1461 in the US House of Representatives. Garofalo added, “We also deeply appreciate our members of the US House of Representatives for supporting H.R. 1639. Representatives Bass and Guinta are making a statement for New Hampshire small businesses, and are serving as a model for others in Congress.” |
