One would expect a U.S. Senator to have better things to do than micromanage every area of American life.
Apparently not.
NBC reported on Sunday that Senator Chuck Schumer, following a campaign to eradicate brightly colored detergent pods, is now prosing a ban on e-cigarette flavors:
Sen. Charles Schumer says the Food and Drug Administration should immediately ban e-cigarette flavors such as candy and cookies that can appeal to young people in the wake of warnings that teens and children are increasingly using e-cigarettes.
The New York Democrat on Sunday released a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb saying the agency had the legal authority to regulate e-cigarette flavors, and encouraging it to do so.
RedState analyst Jim Jamitis put about the right spin on this story:
I expect Chucky will probably be proposing alternative flavors that only appeal to adults whatever those may be. Brussel sprouts? Strong black coffee? Plain yogurt? Or how about fish? I’m sure salted cod flavored e-cigs would be a big seller.
Assuming Schumer isn’t keen on underage kids also developing alcohol habits, I wonder if he’ll also propose banning virtually every trendy cocktail ever invented. If you want alcohol, you can choose between an astringently peated Scotch whisky or 100 proof vodka straight from the bottle. Ice cubes will be permitted for those with the appropriate paperwork but those appletinis and strawberry margaritas are breeding a generation of underaged alcoholics and Washington has to do something about it.
Maybe e-cigarettes are a mild health concern. Maybe they aren't. Either way, the federal government should get back to doing what they were elected to do, and stop trying to regulate every little thing they can get their hands on.
The best way to do that? An Article V Convention of States. Click here to learn more.
