Small town citizen Vicki "McKenna" Porter takes her show to House Oversight Committee!

Thank you Ms. Vicki Porter? No, that's really right-wing talker Vicki McKenna.

Seriously, no one knew that?

It's hard to imagine how Wisconsin reporting missed this one (JS should be embarrassed). WISN's fake news BS'er Vicki McKenna appeared before the House Oversight Committee as an everyday resident "from Lake Mills Wisconsin," defending the practice of vaping (e-cigarettes). They did help her quit cigarettes.

I have to disclose "upfront;" I worked with Vicki as a co-hosted of her show in the very beginning, so I know how she converts real-world facts into a predetermined conservative fiction. That said, McKenna...I mean "Porter" did make some good points about vaping.

McKenna, hiding her identity in front of the House Oversight Committee (how did that happen?), too skillfully exaggerated fiction into fact, got confrontational and took the first opportunity to play the victim against Democratic arch-villain Rep. RashidaTlaib. Tlaib noticed Vicki winking at Rep. Glenn Grothman, and was concerned they both conspired against the committee. She was right, but Porter "McKenna" feigned outrage immediately.

Tlaib also seemed unaware of McKenna's background when she described her as a "converted conservative and a reformed Marxist," with no mention of her radio job.

Watch how McKenna and old friend Rep. Glenn Grothman work the Committee: Porter (McKenna) very selectively stuck to the outdated report from the United Kingdom's Royal College of Physicians back in 2016 (at 1:23 in the video) that determined e-cigarettes weren't harmful. Tricky. Of course that's well before any actual long term and thorough research was enacted, and certainly well before profiteers found ways to contaminate the product with their own untested ingredients.



Again, this is Vicki McKenna, the veteran conservative talk show host, disguised as your average small town concerned citizen. She and Grothman both made outrageous statements.

Grothman said THC cannabis cartridges in the medical marijuana program may have been a mistake because they opened the door for contamination and abuse. Huh?

The fact is, vaping just started harming users after years of being on the market, so it has to be something else. It's not THC capsules, because they have been a successful part of the medical cannabis program. Vicki is right to say that it has to be something that was added to vaping cartridges. And yes, more government long term testing of the effects, and then possible control of the product is a no brainer.

Republicans set bad example, push e-Cigarettes as safe addictive habit. It's anything but...

It's hard to say if Wisconsin Republicans pushing e-cigarettes as safe had actually influenced middle and high schoolers, but you can't rule it out either after these "subtle" public statements:

jsonline: Even as the nation's second-largest city is moving to ban electronic cigarettes where tobacco smoking is prohibited, Wisconsin lawmakers are considering doing just the opposite. A Republican-sponsored bill to clarify that using e-cigarettes indoors is legal, despite a statewide ban on indoor smoking, drew opposition Wednesday from doctors, scientists and others who cited concerns over the product's safety.

"If this bill passes, Wisconsin's children with their young brains so sensitive to nicotine may be put at risk. Why would we do that?" said Dr. Michael Fiore, a University of Wisconsin professor who also founded the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention

Sen. Glenn Grothman's bill would do the opposite, explicitly allowing e-cigarette users to inhale the nicotine-laced vapors indoors despite the state's 2009 law that prohibits indoor smoking.

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is seeking answers on new regulations for e-cigarettes. “I just want to make sure the FDA really understands what it’s doing, what the impact will be on businesses and jobs, and on those individuals whose lives have potentially been saved because they’ve been able to kick the habit using e-cigarettes.” Johnson said the regulations could cost the industry millions of dollars. “Let’s face it, there’s a lot of bad things that unfortunately get in the hands of our children.  If you want to put them on a scale, I guess I’d rather have them using e-cigarettes than smoking normal cigarettes or taking heroin.” 

So this was just the next unhealthy step:

Across the nation, the number of teens using e-cigarettes dropped dramatically last year. But in Wisconsin it was just the opposite.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that 11.3 percent of high schoolers used e-cigarettes in 2016, a sharp decline from previous years. Wisconsin went the other direction, seeing a rise to 13.3 percent. 

Dona Wininsky is director of tobacco control and public policy for the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. "I think there’s still a perception that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes and so for some kids who never would have tried smoking cigarettes they get the idea this might be a safer alternative," Wininsky said.

So what's the big deal? Just how bad are e-cigarette products for middle and high school students? 

1. Most contain the chemical nicotine, which is addictive. When you stop using it, you can go into withdrawal and feel depressed and crabby. Nicotine isn't good for people with heart problems. And some initial research shows it may hurt your arteries.

2. Harm the developing brains of kids and could affect memory and attention.

3. Damage unborn babies. Pregnant women shouldn't use anything with nicotine.

4. Some brands contain chemicals including formaldehyde -- often used in building materials -- and another ingredient used in antifreeze that can cause cancer.

5. Flavors in e-cigs also use a buttery-tasting chemical called diacetyl … when it's inhaled, it can be dangerous. "Diacetyl is a well-known harmful chemical, which, among other things, causes a lung disease called 'popcorn lung,'" says the American Lung Association.

6. A 2016 study in the journal Pediatrics found that teens that never smoked but used e-cigs were six times more likely to try cigarettes compared to kids who don't vape. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015 found a connection too. 

Dumb Ron Johnson defends e-cigarettes as life savers, but then said "Let's face it, there's a lot of bad things that unfortunately get in the hands of our children."

Our know-it-all, do-nothing, big-talking gas bag of self-importance Dumb Ron Johnson again wants us all to fully understand the e-cigarette issue, because he assumes we’re just as clueless as he is.

Anyone who is using e-cigarettes has most likely looked into the health implications of the different additives used in vaporizers, except for maybe kids. But more on that later.

For Johnson, it’s an actual revelation to think about researching anything. He assumes we're all like him, not very curious.

Oh, and just like other "small government" Republicans, he will use government to give business an advantage over science and public health.

Dumb Ron Johnson as usual, wants to “understand” why public safety should outweigh business interests and “jobs.”

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is seeking answers on new regulations for e-cigarettes. “I just want to make sure the FDA really understands what it’s doing, what the impact will be on businesses and jobs, and on those individuals whose lives have potentially been saved because they’ve been able to kick the habit using e-cigarettes.” Johnson said the regulations could cost the industry millions of dollars.

Yea, what’s all this concern about hooking kids...

The new regulations require greater scrutiny of the products and making it more difficult for minors to use them.

Johnson says, that’s life, and besides it’s better than heroin and normal cigarettes:

“Let’s face it, there’s a lot of bad things that unfortunately get in the hands of our children.  If you want to put them on a scale, I guess I’d rather have them using e-cigarettes than smoking normal cigarettes or taking heroin.” 

Okay, instead of heroin and cigarettes, people should ingest the following, according to WebMD (and who knows how the following ingredients might be increased over time):

1. Most contain the chemical nicotine, which is addictive. When you stop using it, you can go into withdrawal and feel depressed and crabby. Nicotine isn't good for people with heart problems. And some initial research shows it may hurt your arteries.

2. Harm the developing brains of kids and could affect memory and attention.

3. Damage unborn babies. Pregnant women shouldn't use anything with nicotine.

4. Some brands contain chemicals including formaldehyde -- often used in building materials -- and another ingredient used in antifreeze that can cause cancer.

5. Flavors in e-cigs also use a buttery-tasting chemical called diacetyl … when it's inhaled, it can be dangerous. "Diacetyl is a well-known harmful chemical, which, among other things, causes a lung disease called 'popcorn lung,'" says the American Lung Association.

6. A 2016 study in the journal Pediatrics found that teens that never smoked but used e-cigs were six times more likely to try cigarettes compared to kids who don't vape. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015 found a connection too. 

State Republicans want Indoor Smoking again, say if you don't like it, go to a different restaurant or bar.

It's enough to take your breath away; Republicans are talking up "freedom and liberty" when it comes irresponsible and dangerous behaviors that impacts peoples health, like smoking.

Republicans have never liked the statewide smoking ban that saves lives and prevents other respiratory illnesses. While the number of smokers gets smaller every year, those not smart enough to quit seems to think the majority of healthy Wisconsinites should be the ones to lose their freedom. Like in this comment at WKOW:

That's right, without the distinct characteristic of cigarette smoke, "every establishment is going to be identical." Smoking is a health hazard that infringes on everybody else's freedom. Or is it? Maybe it's another constitutionally protected right...like say, buying a big gulp or an incandescent light bulb.

On Tuesday, Madison decided to protect the public from cancer, disease and premature death:

WKOW: Madison's City Council approved a ban on electronic cigarettes. It prohibits vaping in public places like bars, restaurants and stores. Council members say chemicals in the vapor of E-cigarettes can be harmful to others. Those against the ban argued that the devices help people quit smoking real cigarettes.

E-cigarette "flavors" emit vapors like nicotine. The effects of nicotine?

Nicotine can also lead to insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance, as well as an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It affects thyroid hormones, pituitary hormones, sex hormones and adrenal hormones.

Bizarro World former state senator and Congressman Glenn Grothman once backed a bill allowing e-cigarette smoking statewide:

Sen. Glenn Grothman's bill would do the opposite, explicitly allowing e-cigarette users to inhale the nicotine-laced vapors indoors despite the state's 2009 law that prohibits indoor smoking.

"Why should we compare e-cigarettes to cigarettes when we should be comparing them to clean air?" said Murray Katcher, a Madison pediatrician.  

Taking Grothman's place is Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt. Check out his amazing response: 

Thiesfeldt: "I enjoy the smoke free air too, but that was my choice, to go to a restaurant that there was smoke in the air, I could go to a different one if I wanted." 

The freedom loving Republican Party, and their phony, devil-may-care, feckless, unaccountable, do-nothing attitude. Here's WKOW's Greg Neumann:

Will we see Candy e-Cigarettes this time around too?

After seeing the graphic of the Sen. Glenn Grothman e-cigarette bill (bottom of page) at Paul's Newsline, I wondered how long it would be before we see a resurgence of candy cigarettes...I mean candy e-cigarettes.

What Grothman doesn't get is how similar e-cigarettes are to the more deadly real ones. Making it "cool" again to hold and puff on a cigarette was one of the big problems and attractions to smoking.

Despite doing away with tar, nicotine is still a toxic substance, and a part of most e-cigarette "filters."

Grothman pushing e-cigarettes in public, and the steamy scent of Camel, Marlboro, Coffee, Juicy Peach from a table near you.

Like everything else, Wisconsin Republicans are taking the state in exactly the opposite direction. E-cigarette smoking in public? Why not?

Add e-cigarettes to the growing list; medical marijuana, gay marriage, wind and solar energy, sex-Ed, women’s health, work hours, minimum wage, Common Core, Medicaid expansion…etc.

Returning to our restaurant countertops and coffee tables...

jsonline: Even as the nation's second-largest city is moving to ban electronic cigarettes where tobacco smoking is prohibited, Wisconsin lawmakers are considering doing just the opposite. A Republican-sponsored bill to clarify that using e-cigarettes indoors is legal, despite a statewide ban on indoor smoking, drew opposition Wednesday from doctors, scientists and others who cited concerns over the product's safety.

"If this bill passes, Wisconsin's children with their young brains so sensitive to nicotine may be put at risk. Why would we do that?" said Dr. Michael Fiore, a University of Wisconsin professor who also founded the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention … five states and dozens of cities — including the nation's three largest — have moved to treat the newly popular e-cigarettes nearly the same as conventional cigarettes. The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to ban the use of electronic cigarettes in workplaces and public areas.

Media whore and policy troglodyte Sen. Glenn Grothman hatched another bill in the hopes of reeling in another campaign donor industry:

USB rechargeable...

Sen. Glenn Grothman's bill would do the opposite, explicitly allowing e-cigarette users to inhale the nicotine-laced vapors indoors despite the state's 2009 law that prohibits indoor smoking.

"Why should we compare e-cigarettes to cigarettes when we should be comparing them to clean air?" said Murray Katcher, a Madison pediatrician. Katcher said studies have shown the vapors can contain heavy metals and other toxicants.

So what are e-cigarette smokers pumping into their lungs now, that they don’t mind sharing with the rest of the public?

Don Muehlbauer, owner of DuraSmoke, the largest e-liquid company in the country, said his products are safer than conventional cigarettes. He said the flavored liquid, which is heated by a coil in the devices and turned into a vapor, contains four ingredients: nicotine, flavoring, vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol.

What's next? E-cigarette innovation....