Tobacco Firm Outspending Supporters of Cigarette Tax

During the first three months of 2011, supporters spent $424,000 to promote a state ballot measure that would raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack to fund cancer research and smoking prevention activities. During the same time period, the Altria Group -- which owns the cigarette company Philip Morris -- spent $1.2 million to fight the proposed ballot measure.

• "Cigarette Maker Spends Big To Fight Per-Pack Tax" (Jewett, California Watch, 5/16).