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July 19, 2007
Contact:
- Andrew Weisser, 818.703.6444, aweisser@alac.org
- Kimberly Weich Reusche, 916.442.4299, kwreusche@alac.org, (916) 505-3099
or your local American Lung Association at 800.LUNG.USA, www.californialung.org
Tobacco Interests Spend More than $68 Million to Influence
California Elections and Legislative Policy
--The American Lung Association of California's Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing
highlights a new report on campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures by tobacco interests
Resources:
July 19, 2007 (Sacramento, CA) Spending on campaign contributions and lobbying by tobacco interests increased dramatically in California during the 2005-2006 election cycle, according to a new report, by the American Lung Association of California's Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing.
"Despite tremendous advances in tobacco control policy and record reductions in smoking, the tobacco lobby continues to invest millions of dollars in California to influence the outcome of campaigns and legislation," said Gwendolyn W. Young, Board Chair, American Lung Association of California. "By making significant investments in campaign contributions and lobbying, the tobacco interests make every attempt to block legislation that would hurt tobacco company profits, but could ultimately improve Californian's health."
Tobacco Money in California Politics shows that tobacco interests contributed more than $66 million to candidates and members of the California Legislature, constitutional officers, political committees and state ballot initiative campaigns, and spent more than $2 million on lobbying expenditures during the two-year election cycle covered, 2005 through 2006.
"The tobacco industry will go to great lengths to flex their political muscle as I learned when they sent out campaign hit pieces calling into question my commitment to protect kids from tobacco" said former Assembly Member Judy Chu, who now represents District 4 and is the Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization.
The data used in producing Tobacco Money in California Politics is derived from the semiannual contribution reports and the quarterly lobbying reports filed by the tobacco interests with the Secretary of State that cover the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006, nearly coinciding with the 2005-2006 legislative session. Highlights from Tobacco Money in California Politics include:
- Of the state legislators serving during the 2005-2006 legislative session, 42 Assembly Members and 21 Senators or 53 percent of the legislature, accepted contributions from the tobacco interests during the 2005-2006 election cycle, an increase of five percent from the 2003-2004 election cycle.
- New state legislators for the 2007-2008 legislative session accepted campaign contributions from tobacco interests at an even higher rate than sitting members, as 56 percent of new members (22 out of 39) elected in November 2006 received these contributions.
- Tobacco interests spent more than $2 million on lobbying expenditures during this two-year period, actively lobbying on bills related to cigarette mitigation fees, Internet sales of tobacco, and prohibiting smoking at state beaches.
- More than $62 million was spent in the November 2006 election by the tobacco interests on the opposition campaign to Proposition 86 (Tobacco Products Tax Initiative), which would have raised the tax on cigarettes by $2.60/pack. Proposition 86 was defeated by a vote of 51.7 to 48.3 percent.
"The large sums spent by the tobacco companies to influence public policy reminds us all that the fight against tobacco use in California is not over," said Kimberly Weich Reusché, Director of the Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing. "We hope this report will empower the state's tobacco control movement and the public to better understand the influence of the tobacco companies on important health policies in our state."
A full copy of Tobacco Money in California Politics is available at www.Center4TobaccoPolicy.org. The public can also learn if their own state Assembly Member or Senator received campaign contributions by utilizing the zip code search function on the website.
"California has made great strides in the fight against big tobacco, but this is an industry that continually places profits ahead of public health. The costs to California remain high. There are still nearly four million smokers in California and smoking-related costs place tremendous strain on the economy, costing Californians $15.8 billion annually in health care costs and lost productivity," said David Burns, MD, chair of the American Lung Association of California's Tobacco Technical Advisory Group.
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The Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing is a project of the American Lung Association of California and funded by the California Department of Health Services. The Center assists local communities address tobacco related policies using community organizing strategies, and provides policy information and analysis regarding tobacco related legislation and policy issues.
For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is "Improving life, one breath at a time." For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1.800.LUNG.USA (1.800.586.4872) or visit www.californialung.org or www.lungusa.org.
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