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For Immediate Release
August 26, 2009

Tobacco Tax Bill Finally Released by Key Senate Committee

After weeks of delay, health advocates are hopeful that SB 600 will now move quickly to Appropriations and Senate Floor.

Sacramento - The American Lung Association, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, a joint coalition sponsoring SB 600, praise the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee for passing a tobacco tax measure that would cut teen smoking, raise prevention and awareness and also generate $1.2 billion in new revenues for California.

"Passing this tobacco tax will generate needed revenues, prevent teen smoking and save lives," said Paul Knepprath, Vice President for Advocacy and Health Initiatives for the American Lung Association in California. "We urge swift action by the Legislature to ensure that a tobacco tax is passed this session."

A strong bi-partisan majority of Californians support increasing the state's tobacco tax, which hasn't been raised in 11 years, during which time 45 other states have increased their tax. Seventy eight percent Democrats, 75 percent of independents, and 65 percent of Republicans support raising the tax an additional $1.50/pack to fund essential state services, tobacco prevention and lung cancer research.

While the public is solidly behind increasing the tobacco tax, the tobacco lobby has spent nearly $1 million in 2009 to defeat similar bills and campaigns. Senate Bill 600 would impose an additional tax on cigarettes of $1.50 per pack, and an equivalent tax on other tobacco products. It would provide that 85 percent of the revenues from the tax would go to the General Fund to protect some of California's health programs, and 15 percent be transferred to the Tobacco Control and Lung Cancer Research Account to fund programs that have already been successful in deterring Californians from beginning to smoke, especially our teenagers.

"We are pleased with Senator Padilla's leadership in undertaking SB 600. California has not increased the cigarette and tobacco revenue source in more than a decade and California's incredibly successful tobacco control program is at risk. SB 600 will raise the money to help sustain such a valuable program, while also generating revenue for California, "said Diane Sobkowicz, M.D., cardiologist and Board President of the American Heart Association Sacramento Division.

"Increasing the tax means fewer young people will begin smoking and California will have a more extensive and targeted anti-smoking education campaign," Jim Knox, Vice President, Legislative Advocacy of the American Cancer Society California Division said. "The bill would generate over $1 billion in the first year alone, which would help balance California's budget, minimize future cuts to important health and education programs, provide crucial funding to prevention, early detection and treatment of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and other smoking related illnesses."

SB 600 passed the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee by a 5-3 vote.