Gov. Davis seeks to offset budget deficit, also plans cigarette tax
Jump to full article: WorldNetDaily.com, 2002-06-19
Author: Jon Dougherty
Intro: California is set to shut off nearly $61 million in funding for state tobacco prevention and education programs as a way for Gov. Gray Davis to balance the state's projected $24 billion deficit next year...
Heath officials said available funding would be redirected to "projects addressing 18-24-year-olds" because it has the "highest smoking prevalence" of any age group. The department also has elected to cut funding to advanced youth tobacco control projects and funding for projects aimed at curtailing smoking in the entertainment industry...
Ken August, a spokesman for the Department of Health's Tobacco Control Section, said no Prop. 99 money "will be redirected" to other agencies. Rather, he said the state had a "surplus" of unspent Prop. 99 money that would be utilized to offset Davis' proposed budget cuts. And, he said, Davis' proposal included a new 50-cents-per-pack tax hike on each pack of cigarettes. . .
Heath officials said available funding would be redirected to "projects addressing 18-24-year-olds" because it has the "highest smoking prevalence" of any age group. The department also has elected to cut funding to advanced youth tobacco control projects and funding for projects aimed at curtailing smoking in the entertainment industry.
Officials decided to leave funding intact for law-enforcement control projects, however, as well as all three "Tobacco Control Through the Arts" pilot programs.
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