Government: Meanwhile, tripling the cigarette tax is debated on the Hill.
Jump to full article: Salt Lake Tribune, 2010-01-14
Author: Robert Gehrke The Salt Lake Tribune
Intro: Big tobacco companies contributed $67,000 to Utah office holders and their political action committees in 2009, as lawmakers wrangle over whether to nearly triple the state's cigarette tax.
Many elected officials in Utah -- including Gov. Gary Herbert and Senate President Michael Waddoups -- refuse contributions from alcohol and tobacco companies.
But more than a third of legislators did receive money from Altria Client Services Inc. and Reynolds American Inc. . . .
"Just personally, it concerns me that the money [legislators] receive came from the poison these folks sold and I wish they were a little more discrete about accepting it," said Michael Siler, government relations director for the Utah chapter of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, who received $1,500 last year from Altria, said he has no problem taking the money and disclosing it, but it doesn't affect his votes.
"If you can't look at somebody straight in the face and take their money and vote according to your conscience, you probably shouldn't take the money," Killpack said.
Waddoups said he no longer accepts contributions from tobacco companies, after constituents voiced objections. However, the Senate Leadership Political Action Committee, which Waddoups and other members of Senate leadership lead, received a total of $14,000 from Altria and Reynolds. . . .
Sen. Allen Christensen will once again sponsor legislation this year that would raise Utah's cigarette tax to $2 per pack . . .
Christensen said there is overwhelming public support for the bill, but he knows the tobacco companies will come after the bill with lobbyists and campaign money.
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