Tobacco Company Donating Funds for Cigarette Tax Battle

Philip Morris USA has donated approximately $128,115 in donations to fight a ballot measure that would raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack to fund cancer research and prevention initiatives. The measure is slated for the February 2012 ballot, but it could appear in June as part of a proposed special election.

• "Philip Morris Gearing Up for June Fight Over Cigarette Tax" (Van Oot, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/22).