CIGARETTE TAX MAY LIGHT UP BALLOT PROPOSAL SEEKS $2.60-A-PACK MORE.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - Cigarettes in California would become the most expensive in the nation under a ballot measure proposed Tuesday by a coalition of health groups. The measure would increase cigarette taxes by $2.60 a pack and generate about $2.3 billion in revenue for a range of health programs, including hospital emergency services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' , children's health Children's Health Definition Children's health encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of children from infancy through adolescence. insurance and cancer research. Current taxes on cigarettes in California are 87 cents a pack, bringing the average price to about $3.95. ``It distributes the funds in a well-thought-out and comprehensive array of health programs that will make a frontal assault The military tactic of frontal assault is a direct, hostile movement of forces towards enemy forces in a large number, in an attempt to overwhelm the enemy. This is often referred to as a "suicide strike," because it is often a commander's last resort when he has run out of on the major diseases and causes of death in California, maintain and expand access to health care, and improve the health of all Californians,'' said Jim Knox, vice president of the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, , one of the measure's sponsors. Tobacco industry officials said the highest state tax on cigarettes is Rhode Island's $2.46 a pack. With the new tax, California's cigarette tax would total $3.47 per pack. The measure - sponsors now have to submit 598,105 valid signatures to place it on the November 2006 ballot - represents a compromise between two competing proposals that would have imposed taxes of $1 or $1.50 a pack. Differences had mainly focused on how the funds would be distributed, with one proposal by the hospital industry focusing more on emergency services and the other focusing more on health care and prevention programs. Most tobacco companies and taxpayer groups These taxpayer groups can be formal nonprofit organizations or informal groups. They are generally seen as “watch dog” groups. As such they try to keep taxes and borrowing down as well as spending. Many US cities have these taxpayer groups. are expected to fight the measure. John Singleton sin·gle·ton n. An offspring born alone. singleton Medtalk One baby. Cf Triplet, Twin. , communications director for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., said the current tax costs tax costs n. a motion to contest a claim for court costs submitted by a prevailing party in a lawsuit. It is called a "Motion to Tax Costs" and asks the judge to deny or reduce claimed costs. California smokers more than $1 billion a year. ``That's an enormous amount of money that's coming from a relatively small portion of the population in California,'' Singleton said. ``And not only is it a minority of the population, but it's a minority of the population that tends to be low- and moderate-income.'' The tobacco industry no longer has a central trade organization - it was disbanded as part of the 1998 settlement with the various state attorneys general - so each company will make its own decision whether to get involved in the campaign. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association helped sponsor Proposition 13, the property tax-cutting initiative in California in 1978 which slashed property taxes by fifty-seven percent and initiated a national tax revolt. It was founded by California republican Howard Jarvis. is also concerned about the proposal. Association President Jon Coupal said higher taxes just lead to more efforts to avoid them - such as purchasing cigarettes online, on an Indian reservation or through the black market. ``We think that California has sufficient revenue to conduct the programs it needs to conduct,'' Coupal said. ``A higher tax is not necessary.'' Harrison Sheppard, (916) 446-6723 harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion