(Image Source: Go Green Zine ) 

 

BY LYNDSEY GARZA

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

 

California ranks the second-lowest per capita smoking rate in the country, but a controversial new measure is trying to further snuff out smoking. Proposition 29 is a ballot initiative set to implement a $1-a-pack tax increase to fund cancer research and smoking cessation programs. CNN has the perspective of supporters.

“There’s tremendous evidence from all over the world that says when you increase the tax on cigarettes, when you increase the price, people smoke less.”

The measure is up for a vote Tuesday, and it would raise an estimated $735 million to help combat the leading cause of death for the state. It’s has gained national attention, with Lance Armstrong as the face of the campaign. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $500,000 the cause and the American Cancer Society contributed more than $7 million.

Despite the high-profile support, according to The New York Times, the state legislature has shot down the tax increase more than 30 times in 30 years. The author of the bill, Don Perata, told the Times a tax increase of any kind is a tough sell to some voters.

“The voters in this state are disinclined to give money — even tobacco money — to the legislature to spend... We’ve become such a damned anti-tax state that we’ve demonized any kind of tax.”

The cigarette tax in California is currently 87 cents, which is half the national average. Approximately 12 percent of the state population smokes. But as KPIX reports , a lot of money’s being thrown against Prop 29.

“Tobacco’s thrown $40 million against this dollar-a-pack increase. They drove the number of support from around 63 to about 52, 53 percent. It seems to be hovering right around there.”

The Daily Democrat argues those in opposition of the bill are falling victim to one of “the sleaziest advertising campaigns” in state history, saying of that $40 million investment...

“That's how certain they are that it will cut into the roughly $6 billion a year in revenue they rake in from the state's 3.8 million smokers.”

Last week, The Los Angeles Times announced its official opposition , stressing the bill “...takes perfectly good tax money and misspends it.” The outlet’s editorial board, however, did call its position “uncomfortable” as it essentially puts the paper in the same camp as tobacco companies.

Two LA Times bloggers even called the employer’s position “unfortunate,” saying, Prop. 29 means life or death.

“Amazingly, the group known as Californians Against Out-of-Control Taxes and Spending (backed by Philip Morris USA and the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.) calls [the bill’s] mandate... a ‘narrow purpose.’ We suspect that the one in two Californians who will be diagnosed with cancer ... consider their fight to beat cancer more than just a ‘narrow purpose.’”  

One of the leading coalitions of California voters against Prop. 29 is “No on 29” — also aforementioned as Californians Against Out-of-Control Taxes and Spending. The movement boasts of more than 80 national, statewide and local organizations’ support.