California: Health Care Advocates Begin Statewide Push for Tobacco Tax Initiative

yahoonews.com ^ | February 17, 2006

[SheLion]

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Hundreds of volunteers throughout the state will hit shopping malls and grocery stores Saturday at 9 a.m. as they kickoff efforts to gather nearly one million signatures needed to place an initiative on the November 2006 ballot that would provide critical funding to reduce smoking, keep emergency rooms open, fund health insurance for children and expand nursing education.

"This initiative will save lives, by raising the tobacco tax and funding urgently needed community emergency and related health care services," said Paul Knepprath of the American Heart Association of California. "This is the broadest coalition that's ever come together to reduce smoking, the number one cause of death in California."

The initiative, which is being sponsored by the Coalition for a Healthy California, would raise the state's tobacco tax by $2.60 per pack of cigarettes, providing approximately $2.1 billion annually for emergency room care, nursing education, children's health insurance, tobacco use prevention programs, and disease research and treatment efforts.

The Coalition for a Healthy California includes the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association of California, American Heart Association, The Children's Partnership, the California Hospital Association, the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, California Emergency Nurses Association, PICO California, Children Now, California Primary Care Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Association of California Nurse Leaders, Emergency and Acute Care Medical Corporation, and the California Association of Physician Groups.

Formal signature-gathering events will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 9 a.m. in San Francisco, San Diego, Visalia, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield and Los Angeles.

Coalition For A Healthy California -- A coalition of health organizations promoting disease research, tobacco control, emergency care and children's health services, with major funding provided by California Hospital Committee on Issues, the American Cancer Society, California Division Inc., American Heart Association and the American Lung Association of California, ID# 1278256 555 Capitol Mall #1425, Sacramento, CA 95814

[TheSpottedOwl]

Is that brand offered through the website? I didn't do a thorough look around, but I liked the prices on the rolling machines. They offer at least three brands of tobacco.

I know several people who roll their own, but they end up looking like "joints". These rolling machines on the site are reasonably priced, and they have filtered papers.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Actually, Rob Reiner is opposed to this tax. He's afraid it'll lead to less smoking and cut into the revenue that comes from the 50 cent a pack tax that his organization controls.

What a self serving, hypocritical, punk!

[Calpernia]

>>>Wow. Everyone's heard of Monsanto, but what are they producing or researching these days?


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1573646/posts
How do you say No NAIS in Japanese?


Take your time and read through that thread. I've been adding info as I find it.

Please don't dismiss when you see something like National Animal ID System and think it doesn't apply. NAIS is part of Healthy People 2010. Just like the tobacco is.

[Calpernia]

That brand, SYO is Stuff Your Own's personal brand. Yes, it is on the website.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I am a boat builder and sailor who is skilled with most weapons and I speak Spanish. Maybe we can play hunt the bigot through the ruins of the coastal town of Phoenix later.

Thank you : )

[TheSpottedOwl]

I'll keep an eye out. There are smoke shops everywhere, but most of them sell hookahs and samurai swords. I'd be looking for a mild blend, but a sampler would help me narrow it down. Thanks!

[TheSpottedOwl]

Gave up menthol years ago, but if it's good, then the regular blends should be good too : )

My bf loathes cigarettes, wait until I show him this thread, lol!

[Just another Joe]

If you're looking for a milder blend go with a milde shag in anything you get.
You might also check out the "light" tubes. They're just like a light cigarettes. They have holes around the outside of the filter so you get more air and less smoke per inhale.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[TheSpottedOwl]

That's about how much they're running here. I buy USA Gold's, or Basic Lights. They run around 3.50 depending where you go. Thanks for the info.

[SheLion]

I know several people who roll their own, but they end up looking like "joints". These rolling machines on the site are reasonably priced, and they have filtered papers.

It's the good rolling machine with the filtered tubes that make all the difference.  :)

[SheLion]

My bf loathes cigarettes, wait until I show him this thread, lol!

Oh well. Smoking isn't for everyone.  :) And it's still legal.  ~whew!

[Just another Joe]

Here's one that's probably about the cheapest around.

Randy’s Tobacco Shop

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

Just don't do what I did. I have loved Camel straights for 39 years. Even the heart attack in '97 didn't make me quit.

One fine morning just under three years ago I had a major stroke. Most of the damage healed, mostly, but the part of my brain that dealt with nicotine addiction was wiped out and the withdrawls went with it. If not for the harm the stroke did, I would say that it was a good way to quit smoking.

Now I find that I still love the smell of tobacco, burning or not, but I have no desire to smoke. It saves me a bunch of money.

I loathe the anti smoking crowd. They steal our money while trying to fool us into believing they do it for the public good.

Hmm, I'm in a bad mood this morning. I think I'll take the wife to the coast to see the new aquatic center that was built with the cigarette tax money that was supposed to pay for health care. The Pacific always make me feel peaceful.

Later,

Michael Frazier

[Navy Patriot]

Oh goody, more market opportunity for organized crime, and more money for existing organized crime (the California State Government).

[TheSpottedOwl]

I saw that livestock national ID thread a day or so ago. My first thought is that the damn government wants to grab your livestock next.

Monsanto sure has been busy. I thought they still manufactured laminates for kitchen counters and such. Didn't they make floor tile back in the 60's? I really love their collaboration(deliberately chosen word) with IG Farben. Bastards! Now they're going to tell what farmers America has left, what they can plant? Oh yeah, and they have to use Monsanto's "special seeds"?

I don't dismiss anything these days. The world has proved itself to be too crazy for that. Thank you for that link. How do people protect themselves from this crap?

[TheSpottedOwl]

Oh cool. I didn't know if there was a choice in filters.

[TheSpottedOwl]

These guys are old timers, and roll them up like people roll joints. I'd hate to be smoking one sitting in my car, and have the sheriff pull up next to me, hahaha!