http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/elections.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x392614169/Letter-Smoke-free-law-under-attack http://tobacco.org/news/333633.html Once again, the health of Illinois citizens is under attack by an effort to weaken the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. Rep. Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights recently introduced a bill to allow businesses to buy smoking licenses from local liquor control commissioners. Another bill would allow bars, strip clubs and other establishments, for a fee, to apply for smoking licenses, provided they installed filtration systems for the air. According to the American Cancer Society, "This bill is a potential setback for the health and well-being of the people of Illinois. If adopted, residents throughout the state will be denied the life-saving, public health protections of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act."? The ACS firmly believes that everyone deserves the right to breathe clean air, free of the cancer-causing poisons known to exist in secondhand smoke. . . . Illinois workers' desire to work in a smoke-free environment and to shop, eat out and breathe clean air doesn't matter to DeLuca. We must put a stop to this and not allow Illinois lawmakers to put their special interests above our health. State Journal-Register Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=601202 http://tobacco.org/news/333603.html Not even a year since Springfield voters approved the smoking ban, the process is in motion to let voters rethink that issue. People who disagree with that ban turned in more than 4,000 signatures to the city Thursday to try and change it. Live Free Springfield needs 2,100 certified signatures to get the issue before voters again, but the group brought in plenty extra -- and hopes the extra effort will let smokers light up again. "One by one, we will look at every signature," says Assistant City Clerk Anita Cotter. She makes sure names match addresses, that signers are registered voters, and that there are no repeats. "We will do everything we can to be as fair as possible." KOLR-TV Channel 10 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/02/09/george-kennedy-rep-mary-still-faces-tough-road/ http://tobacco.org/news/333588.html Mary's biggest metaphorical boulder is her proposal to increase Missouri's lowest-in-the-nation cigarette tax. In a rational world, this would be a no-brainer. The revenue -- estimated at $396 million a year -- would come close to eliminating the budget shortfall that has led Gov. Jay Nixon to slash funding for higher education by 15 percent. As a bonus, research shows that the extra cost of a pack would discourage smoking, especially among the young. Of course, ideology trumps rationality. The Republican majority in the legislature and our Democratic governor are in agreement that no tax shall be raised on anything for any purpose. Neither is likely to be swayed by the fact that an increase of 72 cents a pack would leave Missouri below our neighboring states and far from the national average of $1.46. . . . In her Arkansas drawl that sounds misleadingly soft, she made clear that she plans to persevere. These issues, she said, "are bipartisan everywhere in the state except Jefferson City." Her Republican colleagues, she said, "are wrong on these issues, and they know it." She admitted she may not prevail, but "I make it uncomfortable for them." She's comfortable with that. I'm just glad we're on the same side now. Columbia Missourian Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_19904481 http://tobacco.org/news/333585.html State senators, concerned about possible illegal tobacco sales at a tribal store in which Arthur Allison has an interest, delayed a vote today on whether to confirm him as secretary of the Department of Indian Affairs. Allison, 64, told the Senate Rules Committee that he no longer makes any day-to-day decisions about operations of the Five Star Oil & Gas store on the Navajo nation near Farmington. He said he is "a passive member" of a partnership, but his son runs the business. At issue for the Senate is whether the store is continuing to sell cigarettes to non-tribal members without charging a state tax. Allison said tobacco products at his store are taxed by the Navajo Nation. He said his lawyer did not believe the law required that an additional tax be collected and paid to the state government if someone outside the tribe makes a purchase. Las Cruces Sun-News msimonich@tnmnp.com (Milan Simonich / msimonich) Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://truthdive.com/2012/02/09/JFK-ordered-1-200-Cuban-cigars-hours-before-authorising-them-as-illegal.html http://tobacco.org/news/333560.html John F Kennedy ordered an aide to buy him as many Cuban cigars as possible just hours before he authorised the U.S. trade embargo, which subsequently made them illegal, it has been revealed. The 34th President of the United States asked his head of press and fellow cigar smoker Pierre Salinger to obtain "1,000 Petit Upmanns" on February 6, 1962, so he could have them in his hands before they were deemed contraband. Merely seconds after he was told the next morning that 1,200 of Cuba's finest export had been bought for him, he signed the decree to ban all of the communist state's products from the U.S. The re-surfacing of the story, initially recounted by Salinger to Cigar Aficionado magazine in 1992, comes with the passing of the 50th anniversary of the embargo on Tuesday. According to him, JFK called him into his office and said he needed "some help" to find "a lot of cigars". He wanted "1,000 Petit Upmanns" and needed them by "tomorrow morning". ANI Cuba USA Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.politico.com/blogs/david-catanese/2012/02/no-scotch-and-cigars-for-benishek-114003.html http://tobacco.org/news/333557.html Michigan Rep Dan Benishek's office said he had no knowledge of a "scotch and cigars" fundraising event at CPAC Thursday night and won't be attending. But a spokesman for the One Nation PAC says that's not true and is asking for their contribution to his campaign back. "They are denying even knowing about the party when the congressman was confirmed," said One Nation PAC spokesman Kelly Eustis. "He attended last year also." Politico dcatanese@politico.com (David Catanese Blog: Essential intelligence from the campaign trail) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120209/NEWS01/302090093/smoking-ban-petition?odyssey=nav%7Chead http://tobacco.org/news/333556.html Opponents of the indoor smoking ban voters approved in April turned in an initiative petition this morning seeking a repeal. Dave Myers, of the group Live Free Springfield, said the group gathered more than 4,000 signatures. At least 2,101 must be certified as Springfield residents for the petition to advance to City Council. "We hope that City Council will pass this and do the right thing," Myers said. "We feel that people have seen the effects of the ban ... there are a lot of concerned people." The City Clerk's Office now has 20 days to certify the signatures. Springfield News-Leader abridges@news-leader.com ( Written by Amos Bridges) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/stub-out-tobacco-company-lobbying/2446111.aspx http://tobacco.org/news/333437.html They've been stripped of the right to advertise, will soon be forced to sell their products in plain packaging, at least two political parties refuse to accept their donations and now there is a call to ban tobacco companies from lobbying governments. Anti-tobacco group Action on Smoking and Health wants a crackdown on the tobacco industry's ability to influence public policy. In a submission to a Senate committee inquiry into the Government's Lobbying Code of Conduct and and the Register of Lobbyists, ACOSH said smoking had caused the deaths of more than one million Australians since 1950 and was now responsible for the deaths of 15,000 each year. ''Action to reduce smoking has been consistently and vigorously opposed and undermined by the global tobacco industry through sophisticated and well-funded campaigns in Australia, with the goal of undermining tobacco control and public health initiatives,'' the ACOSH submission said. ''A ban on lobbying activities by the tobacco industry is an appropriate remedy to the tactics utilised by the tobacco industry, which defy accountability or transparency. Canberra Times Australia Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/02/07/news/indian-affairs-secretary-faces-scrutiny-over-cigarette-sales.html http://tobacco.org/news/333424.html Gov. Susana Martinez’s nominee to lead the Indian Affairs Department is under scrutiny from lawmakers over possible illegal sales of cigarettes at a store operated by the Cabinet secretary’s family. The Senate Rules Committee agreed Monday to postpone a vote on the confirmation of Indian Affairs Secretary Arthur Allison because of questions about the sale of untaxed cigarettes at the Star Ranch Store, near Farmington on the Navajo Nation. At issue are sales to non-Indians of cigarettes without New Mexico’s tax and the sale of certain cigarettes that the Attorney General’s Office contends are prohibited in New Mexico. Associated Press Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/general/bid-to-stub-out-tobacco-donations/2444347.aspx http://tobacco.org/news/333383.html POLITICAL parties would be banned from accepting donations from tobacco companies under government legislation to be introduced to State Parliament this year. The move will keep the heat on the Tasmanian Liberal Party, which was criticised last week for taking $38,000 from cigarette companies last year. Attorney-General Brian Wightman said legislation was necessary because the Opposition had failed to do the right thing. ``From our point of view, such a law is just commonsense given the harm that smoking has on our community year after year,'' Mr Wightman said. ``Political parties should not be accepting money from the sale of a product that has such an impact.'' Mr Wightman's promise comes ahead of the release this week of a discussion paper on political donations. examiner.com.au Australia Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=34174 http://tobacco.org/news/333362.html The Attorney-General, Brian Wightman, today called on the Tasmanian Liberals to apologise for comparing unions to tobacco companies on the issue of political donations. The Liberal Party's State Director, Sam McQuestin, is quoted in today's media as saying "I trust that the Bill (banning political donations from tobacco companies) will also include a proposal to ban union donations to Labor". "Unfortunately, this again shows that the Liberals just don't get it," Mr Wightman said. "Comparing unions to tobacco companies is both ignorant and offensive. "Suggesting they should be treated the same way in donation laws is even worse. "Trade unions fight for workers' rights, including better pay and conditions. By contrast, rich tobacco companies sell cigarettes which kill about 400 Tasmanians every year, and put huge extra strain on our health system. Tasmanian Government Media Office communications.unit@dpac.tas.gov.au (- Tasmanian Government Media Releases) Australia Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-06/labor-targets-the-opposition-over-tobacco-donations/3812716?section=tas http://tobacco.org/news/333330.html The Labor party in Tasmania is stepping up its campaign against the Liberal party for accepting donations from tobacco companies. Last week the Australian Electoral Commission released a list of donations to Tasmania's political parties, which showed the state Liberals received about $38,000 in donations from two big tobacco companies. Labor's state secretary, John Dowling says it's re-released the Liberal party's "vision for the future" TV commercial on the internet with a health warning about tobacco. "The Liberal party has received tens of thousands of dollars from big tobacco, they've received tens of thousands of dollars from other sources," he said. Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australia Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/measure-seeks-curb-%E2%80%9Croll-your-own%E2%80%9D-cigarette-movement.html http://tobacco.org/news/333329.html On Tuesday, the House Committee on Business & Financial Services officially approved legislation that would formally declare retail shops as manufacturers of cigarettes and also make them pay the same taxes as are levied on pre-packed cigarettes. The measure now heads to the House Ways & Means Committee. A similar measure is being considered in the Senate. Brown, who traveled to Olympia to testify against the measure, says that by declaring his little store a cigarette manufacturer he would have to undergo the same U.S. Food & Drug Administration standards as the large tobacco companies. “I don’t mind charging more in taxes but the manufacture aspect, that’s going to put us out of business,” Brown said. And on Thursday, despite never receiving a public hearing, the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection referred legislation that would out-right ban the use of the large “roll your own” cigarette machines to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Brown said he’s just amazed at the open hostility he’s seeing to destroy his business. . . . “I’m not convinced that we need this bill,” said Blake, D-Aberdeen. “I think the business owners have made the case that they’re just selling tobacco and the tubes and letting customers combine them. And I’m not convinced that any change is needed. But, I have to say, there is bi-partisan support to push this through this session.” Rep. Steve Kirby, who chairs the House Business Committee, is the prime sponsor of the legislation. “Many of you will recall a couple of years back when we put that last dollar a pack on cigarettes, I stood on floor of the House opposed to that,” said Kirby, D-Tacoma. “I warned that people would find a way not to pay it. Here we are. Here we are. And we’ve got a problem now and we’ve got to weigh the revenue we’re losing by raising taxes against this entrepeneur spirit that many of us respect.” TK Bentler, with the Washington Association of Neighborhood Stores, testified that the state is losing $26.2 million in revenue a year by allowing the roll-your-own cigarette stores to remain open and not pay the same taxes. Aberdeen Daily World Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/05/e-cigarette-bill-opponent-saw-smoke-and-mirrors/ http://tobacco.org/news/333315.html A St. Maries legislator raised fears about a “nanny state” when the Idaho House considered legislation this week to ban the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes to children, but the measure ended up passing unanimously. State Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, cast the only “no” vote on HB 405, but then, at the last minute, changed his vote to “yes.” Harwood told the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, that he suspected the statistics Nonini cited in his opening debate for the bill were slanted and came from groups that really don’t want anyone to smoke. “I can’t speak for the New England Journal of Medicine,” Nonini responded, “but yes, they would encourage nobody to smoke cigarettes. … Panhandle Health, yes, I think they would support no smoking at all.” Nonini himself is a smoker. . . . State Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, told the House, “Most of you know in this body that I am a statistic. … I had the opportunity to quit smoking this last year, and I started smoking in my mid-20s. It’s not the kind of thing I like to stand up and announce to the whole world, but that’s what I did. … The statistics are, and it has been proven … that minors that start smoking, they have a lot more difficult time quitting than I did. And trust me, it’s not an easy addiction to overcome, and I probably will struggle with it for a long, long time.” The Spokesman-Review Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=34168 http://tobacco.org/news/333242.html Labor Member for Bass, Brian Wightman, today called on Will Hodgman to explain where else the Liberals will spend the political donations it received from cigarette companies. Mr Wightman said the Liberals needed to come clean on exactly what campaigns this money from big tobacco would be spent. "Given that Mr Hodgman's new website advertisement features him making promises about health care funding, I'm sure Tasmanians would be interested in knowing what else the profits of cigarette sales will be helping pay for. "He should immediately can these ads, and ensure the Liberal Party start disclosing how much of their advertising is being brought to Tasmanians courtesy of big tobacco companies and their profits. "Mr Hodgman seems to think it is okay for his Party to pocket $38,000 in proceeds of cigarette sales on the basis that it doesn't alter its policies, and that they have supported Labor's anti-smoking laws. Tasmanian Government Media Office communications.unit@dpac.tas.gov.au (Tasmanian Government Media Releases) Australia Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT