Signatures for Tobacco Tax Increase Submitted for Spot on 2012 Ballot
On Wednesday, Don Perata (D) -- Oakland mayoral candidate and former Senate President Pro Tempore -- and other supporters of a proposed tobacco tax measure said they have submitted more than enough petition signatures to put the measure on the 2012 ballot, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
The initiative -- called the California Cancer Research Act -- would increase California's cigarette tax by $1 per pack to raise funds for cancer research (Richman, San Jose Mercury News, 6/30).
Supporters say the measure also would increase funding for research on heart disease, emphysema and other tobacco-related diseases by more than $500 million annually.
Its proponents include the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association.
California has not raised its tobacco tax during the past 10 years (Van Oot, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 6/30).
Broadcast Coverage
On Wednesday, KCBS reported on the proposal. The segment includes comments from David Veneziano, CEO of the American Cancer Society (Butler, KCBS, 6/30).
Tobacco Research Donation
In related news, Susan Desmond-Hellman, chancellor of UC-San Francisco, recently donated $134,000 from the sale of her stock in cigarette company Altria to UCSF's Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, New York Times' "Prescriptions" reports.
Desmond-Hellman said she did not realize her financial adviser had purchased the Altria stock (Wilson, "Prescriptions," New York Times, 6/30). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.