The View-Point

• "[Veon] has created a new consulting/lobbying firm here, called, not surprisingly, Mike Veon & Associates. So far, however, it's just him, without associates. And his first, and so far only, client is U.S. Tobacco Co., which makes smokeless tobacco and cigars, both of which are targeted to be hit by the state sales tax under Gov. Ed Rendell's budget plan.
  
  Mr. Veon [...] said he'll urge lawmakers not to extend the sales tax to cigars and chewing tobacco for the first time. Mr Veon said he will lobby members of the Senate and governor's office, but is barred for a year from lobbying his former House colleagues."

• It is painful to realize that we the citizens of Pennsylvania have footed the bill for what was, in effect, the 'job training' that enabled Mike Veon to setup this new private venture. Certainly many defeated politicians go the route of 'influence whore', but it is utterly disgusting that Veon would sell his soul to the tobacco industry in exchange for the almighty dollar. Coming from a county inhabited by a significant number of elderly people, many sick or dying from tobacco-related cancers, Veon should be ashamed of the crudity of his new venture. On the bright side: More confirmation that the voters of Beaver County were right to vote this 'bum' out!

(Originally Posted: 2/13/2007 @ 12:01am)

Labels: commentary, news

posted by Jason  # 12:05 AM