NO SMOKING ~ The Signs of the Times

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My Word: Dosal is not Big Tobacco

Once again, out-of-state Big Tobacco is getting Florida associations to do its bidding, and now it seems it is the Florida Retail Federation’s turn (“Tap tobacco for its fair share,” Orlando Sentinel, Monday).

What’s worse is that the federation is buying into Big Tobacco’s reckless distortion of the facts, doing a disservice to its members who are probably not aware that their association is advocating for out-of-state Big Tobacco and against a taxpaying Florida company.

This same, tainted information has been dished out to the media and lawmakers by these giant tobacco manufacturers for the past several legislative sessions, as they try to drive our family-owned, South Florida company out of business.

The concept of a tax on small companies bill being brought by Big Tobacco is wrongheaded and spun to Big Tobacco’s self-interest. Florida’s landmark tobacco settlement was approved by the circuit court in Palm Beach County, where the same tobacco giants were charged with a national conspiracy to lie to the public and Congress for decades about the dangers of smoking and to attack scientific proof of links to lung cancer from smoking.

Now, these companies want Florida’s only tobacco manufacturer, Dosal Tobacco Corp. of Opa-Locka, to be taxed by the Florida Legislature as if it were equally guilty.

This is an arrogant attempt to regain market share — as if 85 percent of the market in Florida is not enough for them. Dosal was not involved in any conspiracy and did not lie to Congress, and even Florida’s tobacco-fighting lawyers say Dosal never was involved in any of the unseemly acts. Dosal was sued and ultimately dismissed from the lawsuit. To call this a loophole is just another lie from Big Tobacco.

Big Tobacco knows what will happen if a new, targeted tax is placed on small competitors. The track record speaks for itself, showing the smaller manufacturers either go out of business or leave the state. This happened in Minnesota, where tobacco lobbyists pushed through identical legislation in 2004.

Dosal has been an upstanding corporate citizen in Florida for years, significantly contributing to the economic well-being of the state. Established in Florida in 1962, Dosal has 300 families across Florida that rely on the company for employment. From its main manufacturing plant in Opa-Locka, where Dosal employs 130 Floridians with health care and pension benefits, to its more than 150 Floridians employed by its distributors across the state, Dosal is dedicated to providing a variety of employment opportunities in South Florida and across the Sunshine State.

Big Tobacco has been roaming the halls of the Capitol looking for friends for years. But it is unfortunate that the Florida Retail Federation has chosen to advocate to put a Florida company out of business during record unemployment and economic strife — all at the request of out-of-state Big Tobacco.

Yolanda Nader is chief executive officer and chief financial officer for Dosal Tobacco Corp.

By Yolanda Nader
February 21, 2010


http://www.tobacco-facts.net/2010/02/my-word-dosal-is-not-big-tobacco