New Tobacco Tax to Fund Health Care for Kids, Expand Anti-Smoking and Disease Prevention Programs
Posted on: Thursday, 20 October 2005, 15:00 CDT
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly formed coalition of the state's major health and children's advocacy groups has launched a campaign to pass a $1.50 increase in the state's cigarette tax on the November 2006 ballot. Proceeds from the Tobacco Tax, Disease Prevention and Children's Health Insurance Act would be directed to strengthen and expand existing tobacco prevention efforts, disease prevention, treatment and research programs such as those for heart disease and stroke, cancer and lung disease, and would also provide funding so that every child in California can receive affordable health care insurance.
"Tragically, more than 800,000 children in California today are without even the most basic health care coverage," said Wendy Lazarus, Founder and Co-President of The Children's Partnership. "This initiative responds to the overwhelming majority of Californians who believe that providing affordable insurance for kids is 'the right thing to do.' With 90 percent of kids already covered, these funds will allow California to finish the job for children."
Earlier this month, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation that would have provided health insurance for every uninsured child in California, saying he supported the goal but there was no money to pay for it.
Although California has become a worldwide role model in reducing adult and youth smoking, there are still nearly four million people in California who smoke and tobacco remains the leading cause of death in California, taking 40,000 lives annually.
"Taxing tobacco will save lives," said Georjean Stoodt, MD, MPH, President of the American Cancer Society, California Division. "This tobacco tax will help prevent children from starting to smoke and provide services to help smokers quit."
Smoking related diseases have a major negative economic impact on all taxpayers and the entire health care system, including more than $8.6 billion annually in medical expenses every year.
"Tobacco places a tremendous strain on the state's health care system, which makes it nearly impossible to address important diseases such as heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and asthma," said Hannah Valantine, MD, President of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate.
"This tobacco tax focuses on preventing illnesses rather than paying for the cost of treatment after a person gets sick," said Rick Donaldson, Jr., Ph.D., RCP, and Chair of the Board for the American Lung Association of California.
If passed by the voters, the additional $1.50 per pack tax would raise the state tobacco tax to $2.37 per pack. Currently, the state's tobacco tax is $.87 per pack. The state tobacco tax was last raised by $.50 per pack in 1998 by Proposition 10.
The Coalition for a Healthy California consists of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, California Nurses Association, PICO California, The Children's Partnership, Children NOW, and the California Primary Care Association.
For a full copy of the Tobacco Tax, Disease Prevention and Children's Health Insurance Act of 2006, please go to: http://caag.state.ca.us/initiatives/index.htm .
Coalition for a Healthy California
CONTACT: Jack Nicholl, +1-310-457-6306, or Wendy Lazarus,+1-310-260-1220, ext. 11, both of Coalition for a Healthy California; orPaul Knepprath of American Lung Association, +1-916-505-3099; or Jim Knox ofAmerican Cancer Society, +1-916-448-0500; or Eric Batch of American HeartAssociation, +1-916-446-6505; or Ted Lempert of Children Now, +1-510-763-2444;or Jim Keddy of PICO California, +1-916-447-7959; or Carmela Castellano-Garciaof California Primary Care Association, +1-916-440-8170; or Michael Lighty ofCalifornia Nurses Association, +1-510-273-2242, all for Coalition for aHealthy California
Web site: http://www.ca.cancer.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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