My contribution --
I oppose S. 194 ("A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax rate parity") because...I've smoked a pipe for forty years, and at last year's checkup, my PA said I have the HR and BP "of a high school kid." (Her phrase.) Pipe smokers and cigar smokers (I guess, I only smoke cigars to celebrate births) don't inhale and don't crave nicotine. Personally, I avoid pipe tobacco blends that are nicotine heavy, because I don't care for them. I've gone on vacation, forgotten my pipe smoker's kit bag and gotten through the intermission with absolutely no nicotine withdrawal effects. In short -- pipes and cigars are used differently than cigs, and it is mistaken to claim that lumping all tobacco products together in one category establishes "parity." I urge you to celebrate the arrival of Spring by loading a corn cob with a mild, sweetly nutty English blend and spend 20-minutes relaxing and enjoying the next 20 minutes or so. Please do not join the meddling lemmings who are determined to be a plague and pestilence on their peace-loving neighbors.