Branstad should veto e-cigarettes legislation

Consistent with his avowed goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the country, Gov. Terry Branstad should veto House File 2109, passed by the Iowa Legislature in the closing hours of the 2014 session. This legislation, crafted and lobbied for by the tobacco industry, is a Trojan horse that promises to protect youths from the sale of e-cigarettes but which, in actuality, will produce the opposite result.

To add insult to injury, this legislation also will allow e-cigarettes to be exempted from the Iowa Smoke Free Air Act.

The Food and Drug Administration recently passed comprehensive regulations that will much more effectively protect Iowans from these untested and potentially dangerous products.

Vetoing House File 2109 and letting the FDA regulations take effect is the best course of action at this time.

Gary Streit

Cedar Rapids