California cigarette tax narrowly leading.

[RandySF]

(06-05) 21:00 PDT San Francisco -- Tobacco companies poured nearly $47 million into defeating Proposition 29, a $1-a-pack tax hike on cigarettes, but the measure was narrowly leading in early returns Tuesday despite the hard-fought campaign.

The tax increase would raise $810 million a year for cancer research and smoking cessation programs, and it would give California - which currently has a lower tobacco tax than 32 other states - the 16th-highest cigarette tax in the nation.

It is the second time in six years that voters were asked to increase the state's current 87-cent-a-pack tax; in 2006, a similar hike was defeated at the ballot box.

The vote would be a huge win for the public health groups that sponsored the measure, including the American Cancer Society. They have repeatedly tried - and failed - to persuade lawmakers to raise the tax on tobacco products, said the group's California vice president, Jim Knox. Those groups raised about $11.2 million for the campaign.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/05/MNET1OO2HT.DTL#ixzz1wz2zAdV6

[sadbear]

1. I heard tobacco co.'s poured about $46 million into this one.

Or was it more? They're set to lose about $1 billion worth of smokers if the measure passes.

[onehandle]

2. Good. Tax the common drug of the stupid. nt

[Webster Green]

3. I voted for it.

And I smoke cigs.

[ellisonz]

4. I voted against it.

Sin taxes are regressive and the money will just go to big pharma type companies in large part. I would have voted for it if it went to something more useful, but considering our $16 billion budget deficit a handout to corporations on the backs of the poor isn't justifiable.

[Raine]

6. So did I, I hope it goes down to defeat. nt

[pinboy3niner]

5. Currently neck-and-neck, 50.1% Yes, 49.9% No

With 45.5% of precincts fully or partially reporting.

http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/ballot-measures/

[Prism]

7. I voted against

I'm tired of the government rewarding and punishing behavior. Adults can make their own choices. Let's tax poor people so pharma companies can have more money?

Nah, thanks.