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Proposing a healthy solution 

  California voters passed a ballot measure in 1998 for the tax, which the state allocates to organizations providing health services for infants to 5-year-olds.

     Families-Costa Mesa, which was given $80,000, was one of five Orange County organizations which received state tobacco money earlier this month.

     The state funding for Families-Costa Mesa will end if voters approve Proposition 28 on March 7. The measure would repeal the tobacco tax.

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LETTER: Propositions on Tuesday's Ballot 

Why, I wonder, was the smoker selectively burdened with this obscenely large special tax "to help our children"? Fortunately this added tax is not a crushing burden on me. But I am sure that it is a heavy burden on many persons who have enjoyed smoking for many years.

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LETTERS: Proposition 28 

I believe that it is time to end the tax-the-other-guy trend that has become popular in the last few years. . . /
. . . Proposition 10's tobacco tax caused a 30 percent decline in tobacco sales in the first six months of 1999, according to the American Cancer Society. . . Proposition 28 would cut $680 million per year from programs that prepare young children to enter school ready to learn.

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THE CHRONICLE RECOMMENDS 

25/ YES. Replaces the anything-goes ways of Sacramento with a system to put limits on campaign donations, increase disclosure and, for the first time, ban corporate contributions. . . 28/ NO. The 50-cents-a-pack tax on tobacco, passed in 1998, appears to be helping to reduce smoking. And the revenue is just starting to reach early-childhood programs. No time to retreat. [This graph only]

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BAILEY: League's positions on propositions d 

     Although Proposition 25 has some attractive features, it has the kind of soft money loopholes that have plagued the presidential election public funding system. The League of Women Voters urges a no vote on Proposition 25. . . The Glendale/Burbank League of Women Voters opposes Proposition 28, 'Repeal of Proposition 10 Tobacco Surtax.'

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Proposition 28 would erase cigarette tax 

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has appointed seven community members, including 5th District Supervisor Dave Solaro, who will decide how the county's $1.75 million share will be spent.

The amount depends on births within a county relative to statewide births.

The estimated state revenue reduction for the remainder of 1999-00 is $215 million, according to the legislative analyst's findings.

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Proposition 28 Foes Hold Protest Rally 

About 50 people gathered at the Ventura County Government Center on Tuesday to encourage voters to oppose Proposition 28--which would repeal the 50-cent-per-pack cigarette tax--on the March 7 ballot.

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Campaign reform, tobacco measures trailing 

With less than a week before Tuesday's election, a Field Poll of likely voters also showed growing majorities inclined to oppose propositions that would repeal a 50-cent tobacco tax . . . The campaign reform initiative, Proposition 25, would restrict political giving . . . The Field Poll showed the measure trailing with 46 percent opposed, 36 percent in support and 18 percent undecided. . . The survey shows 59 percent opposed to Proposition 28, with 32 percent in support and 9 percent undecided.

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Archerd: Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Langella split 

Rob Reiner has been traveling to all 58 California counties . . . in his capacity of chairman of the California Children & Families State Commission, to encourage defeat of Proposition 28 . . . Reiner will additionally be involved in fund-raising for Al Gore for president. While he enjoys his involvement in politics, Rob laughingly tells me, ``I'd like to get back in showbiz!''

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Play It Again Tobacco Tax Vote 

First, Meathead vanquished the Marlboro Man in a cliffhanger finish. Now, in the best Hollywood tradition, comes the sequel.

Fourteen months after he persuaded California voters to raise cigarettes taxes by 50 cents a pack to create new funds for early childhood development, actor-director Rob Reiner is back on the campaign trail. . . A recent Field Poll indicated the repeal effort has yet to catch on with voters. Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed were in favor of Proposition 28, while 57 percent were against it and 14 percent were undecided.

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ROSCOE: Prop. 28 Repeals Tobacco Surtax Imposed by Prop. 10 - PRO - A smokescreen of good intentions 

In reality, children and parents don't receive money from Proposition 10. The money goes to bureaucrats. Think of your own family. Who cares more about your children -- you or a well-meaning chairman of the county's Proposition 10 commission? . . I don't want Rob Reiner . . . to be my kid's mom! . . We should raise our children -- not pass the responsibility onto Rob Reiner or the government. Love works. Responsibility works.

. .

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Love works.
Cigarettes Cheaper! owner Ned Roscoe, in <i>Prop. 28 Repeals Tobacco Surtax Imposed by Prop. 10 - PRO - A smokescreen of good intentions</i>

BERGAN: Prop. 28 Repeals Tobacco Surtax Imposed by Prop. 10 - CON - A choice between children or tobacco 

In the ultimate irony, the tobacco retailer supporting Proposition 28 claims that he is trying to pass the measure because he cares about children. However, this ``concern for children'` has not stopped him from opening tobacco stores across the street from schools. His stores have been cited 21 times by the federal government for selling tobacco to minors. If Proposition 28 passes, fewer children will enter school ready to learn, fewer children will have access to health care, and more children will begin smoking. Join the California Federation of Teachers, the American Cancer Society and the AARP in voting no.

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LETTER: Society Benefits 

We all pay taxes of varying kinds with the understanding that there will be times in which that money is spent for causes and programs for which we care little.

But overall, society benefits as a whole from the types of programs funded by Proposition 10 money.

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EDITORIALS 

25/ YES. Replaces the anything-goes ways of Sacramento with a system to put limits on campaign donations, increase disclosure and, for the first time, ban corporate contributions. . . 28/ NO. The 50-cents-a-pack tax on tobacco, passed in 1998, appears to be helping to reduce smoking. And the revenue is just starting to reach early-childhood programs. No time to retreat. [This graph only]

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Earvin 'Magic' Johnson Announces His Opposition to Prop 28 

The No on Prop 28 Campaign, a statewide coalition opposing Prop 28, the Tobacco Initiative, will hold a campaign event with Magic Johnson on Monday, February 28 at 10 a.m. at the Crenshaw Family YMCA. . . Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Former NBA player and Founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation which works for the health, educational, and social needs of inner city youth

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