By Lowell Grant ? letters to the editors
This is the 20th anniversary of the passage of Prop. 99, the 25 cent tax on cigarettes sold in California. In 1988 this was groundbreaking legislation and its impact both here and across the nation have been both graphic and undeniable. I had the pleasure of attending the “Capital information days” meeting of the “Coalition to Protect All Califomians from Tobacco” this week in Sacramento, along with members from all around the state. Every member of our legislature was visited. You”ll be happy to know that both Assemblyman Chesbro and Senator Wiggins are supportive of all three bills currently being considered.
The revenues gained from Prop. 99 were not allowed to he used for any purpose other than to curb the use of tobacco products. The focus was education, to help prevent those under 18 from starting to smoke and on cessation for those already addicted. Now, 20 years later, the statewide rate of adult smokers has dropped from 22.7 percent to 13.8 percent and it”s estimated that 1 billion fewer packs of cigarettes will be sold in California this year as a result of these efforts. Many other states have since followed our lead and other laws were passed here subsequently that banned smoking in restaurants, bars and even at outdoor public venues.
Some interesting facts are that the lower the income level, the higher the percentage of smokers. Studies have shown that when addicts are faced with a choice between food and cigarettes, they will often choose to put the food back and buy the cigarettes! American Indians smoke at more than double the rate for the general population, 28.2 percent. More than 90 percent of smokers start before they turn 18, most much earlier. Very few adults make the decision to start smoking and the tobacco companies know they have to addict you early or they lose the chance. Here in Lake County, tobacco is a much bigger problem than with the statewide population.
Tobacco adds 30 percent to the cost of healthcare and we all pay for it in our insurance premiums. Millions of lives are cut short every year by tobacco and it causes untold suffering.
One of the bills being considered will correct a major flaw in the original Prop. 99, as there was no clause to adjust the fee for inflation, so we are still collecting the same 25 cents per pack. Prop. 99, happily, is also a victim of its own success in that with 1 billion fewer packs being sold, the potential revenue has decreased by $250 million. Another bill addresses the fact that although it is against the law to deal tobacco to minors, the penalties are so small that the vendor has almost no incentive to adhere to the law and local police have no incentive to enforce it. Sting operations have proven that our children are having no problem obtaining tobacco. The third bill prohibits sale of tobacco within a certain distance from public schools.
Last year the legislature passed a bill that would have licensed sales of tobacco. If a vendor was caught dealing tobacco to minors, they could lose their license for a period of time, giving them the incentive to actually make an effort to stop these illegal sales.
Sadly, Gov. Schwarzenegger, a famous cigar smoker, chose to veto this common sense regulation.
The governor has been courageous in his stand for the environment, especially given the radical climate within his party. He is a role model for children when it comes to physical fitness. I had the opportunity to give him a short note thanking him for his stance on the environment and letting him know that my father, who smoked cigars, died of a heart attack and my mother, who never smoked, died of lung cancer after an 11 year struggle. Both were very young. After watching my mother suffering for such a long and terrible time with cancer, it”s my opinion that shooting someone is far more kind, yet law enforcement places no emphasis on this. I reminded the governor that his wife and children, as well as millions of others, are affected by bis actions and asked him not to veto the tobacco bills that will be coming to his desk this year.
I hope you are thinking “What can I do to help?” The answer is easy. You can add your voice by calling or sending a short note to: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814, Phone: 916-445-2841 or Fax: 916-558-3160. Part of having a successful democracy is having informed citizens taking an active role. We can”t just sit back and wait for someone else to step up and shoulder the burden. If you want good things to happen, please stop waiting for it and make an effort.
Lowell Grant
