Surgeon General's Report Reinforces Need for Tobacco Tax Initiative in California; Secondhand Smoke a Serious Health Hazard That Can Lead to Disease and Premature Death in Children and Nonsmoking Adults.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona released a new report today on the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke. The report, titled "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke," is the first such report by the Surgeon General's office in 20 years. The 1986 report marked the first comprehensive scientific analysis of the health data surrounding secondhand smoke. The new report builds upon the previous study and reinforces years of scientifically irrefutable evidence on the health hazards of secondhand smoke, calling for continued vigilance in promoting smoke-free zones. (Copies of the report can be found at www.surgeongeneral.gov.)

"Today's Surgeon General's report is a wake up call to the effects that smoking has on everyone -- whether you smoke or not. The report drives home the need for increasing taxes on cigarettes, which have been proven to reduce smoking and save lives," said Maria Robles, R.N. spokesperson for the Coalition for a Healthy California, sponsors of California's Tobacco Tax Act of 2006.

"There are no safe levels of secondhand smoke and it's causing 35,000 to 45,000 deaths each year from heart disease and 3,000 more deaths from lung cancer among nonsmokers," said Robles, referring to the report's findings. "Our children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke and our measure will help stop these alarming and tragic outcomes.

"Because of the links between smoking and diseases such as cancer, California taxpayers are currently paying $8.6 billion annually in healthcare costs related to smoking. That means every family -- whether or not they're smokers -- is paying more than $860 a year. That's money that could pay for child care, doctor's bills or food," Robles said.

"Smoking remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease, with 42,000 Californians dying of smoking-related diseases each year. The ultimate goal of the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 is to reduce, if not eliminate, smoking -- especially among our kids. In the meantime, funds raised by the tobacco tax will help offset the billions of dollars spent on smoking-related diseases, as well as fund existing and successful smoking prevention and cessation programs."

The Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 would raise the tobacco tax by $2.60 per pack of cigarettes. The approximate $2 billion annual expected revenue would provide critical funding to strengthen and expand the reach of existing tobacco use prevention programs. The initiative, which will likely be assigned a proposition number by early July, will also fund health insurance for children and provide needed resources for other health care priorities including disease prevention, medical research, and emergency room care.