http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/MO.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us 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.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.news-leader.com/article/20120203/NEWS01/302030041/Springfield-smoking-ban-repeal?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CSpecial%20Reports%7Cp http://tobacco.org/news/333194.html Opponents of the expanded smoking ban that took effect in June say they've gathered more than enough signatures to put a repeal of the ordinance before Springfield voters. The group Live Free Springfield, which campaigned against the smoking ban before it was passed in April, has been circulating petitions seeking a repeal since November. "As of right now we have over 4,000 signatures," said spokesman Dave Myers. "That shows a lot of support from a lot of people that are really seeing the effects of this ban." According to City Charter, signatures from 2,101 registered Springfield voters -- 10 percent of the vote total in the most recent mayoral election -- are needed to send the initiative petition to City Council. Springfield News-Leader abridges@news-leader.com ( Written by Amos Bridges) Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/235110-mo.-ag-says-tobacco-payment-loophole-causing-big-problems http://tobacco.org/news/333118.html Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says the state legislature's inaction on a tobacco payment loophole has placed the state in "terrible and unnecessary peril." For a third time, Koster is asking the legislature to repeal a flaw in the state's tobacco escrow statute, writing to each member of the Legislature on Jan. 25. Koster says a state law related to the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement allows companies that pay concentrate their sales in Missouri to recover almost the entire amount they put into an escrow fund designed to help with medical costs caused by smoking. The other 45 states that signed the MSA have taken care of this issue, Koster says. Tobacco companies must either sign the MSA or put funds in escrow accounts. "Missouri stands alone in its coddling of these non-signatory cigarette producers," Koster wrote. Legal NewsLine jobrienwv@gmail.com (JOHN O'BRIEN) Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/50577/ http://tobacco.org/news/333089.html For the third consecutive year, Attorney General Chris Koster is calling on the Missouri General Assembly to pass a law to close a critical loophole in the tobacco master settlement agreement Missouri and 45 other states signed in 1998. Missouri is the only state left that has not closed the loophole – a situation that could potentially cost Missouri past and future settlement funds of more than $1 billion. A state law related to the settlement agreement requires tobacco companies that did not participate in the settlement to set aside funds in escrow each year that could pay states’ claims against the companies in the future. But a gap in the law’s drafting led to unintended consequences, allowing companies that concentrate their sales in Missouri to recover almost the entire amount of the money they put into escrow at the end of each year. While every other state of the 45 states participating in the settlement has corrected this error, Missouri’s legislature has failed to act year after year Kansas City infoZine Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.kait8.com/story/16659024/mo-ag-urges-changes-to-tobacco-escrow-law http://tobacco.org/news/333081.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is renewing a call for lawmakers to change a state law related to a 1998 settlement with big tobacco companies . . . At issue are state laws that require companies not participating in the settlement to pay money into escrow funds based on the amount of cigarettes they sell. The escrow accounts are intended to cover any future lawsuits. But Koster says Missouri's law contains a loophole that allows much of the escrow money to be refunded to the tobacco companies. Associated Press Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.stlbeacon.org/region/115670-areas-with-most-smoking-related-illness-have-most-exemptions http://tobacco.org/news/332881.html Many establishments that are exempted from St. Louis County's public-smoking ban are in areas with the highest incidences of smoking-related illnesses, according to an analysis by Tobacco-Free St. Louis. It also argues that the exemptions could undo the health benefits of the Clean Air Act and that they are unfair to the majority of county establishments that have banned smoking. According to the group, 56 of the exempted establishments are in north county. Another 41 are in south county, 29 are in west county and the remaining 20 are in the mid-county region, including the smoke-free communities of Clayton, Brentwood and Kirkwood. Dr. Stuart Slavin (right), a member of Tobacco-Free St. Louis, stressed that the group isn't arguing that illnesses related to smoking would vanish without the exemptions. "But what's striking to me is that if you look at illnesses that may be smoking related, whether it is heart attacks or hospitalization for chronic lung diseases, you will find significantly greater risks and rates in north county," Slavin said. He also said that many residents of north county may lack adequate access to health care and "can least afford to suffer from these problems." He added, "We aren't saying this is the cause of health disparity. But it certainly is one that's contributing, and it's easy to fix. It simply requires an act of the County Council, and these exemptions would disappear." No council members were available to comment on the analysis, which shows that the 56 exemptions are in districts represented by Democrats Hazel Erby of University City, Kathleen Kelly of Overland, and Council Chair Michael O'Mara of Florissant. Kelly and O'Mara have raised questions over the years about the ban. St. Louis Beacon Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/jan/29/cigarettes-internet-can-help-fill-gap/ http://tobacco.org/news/332820.html I urge all area legislators who care about the University of Missouri and all university leaders to join in support of legislation I will be filing to raise the cigarette tax. This proposal would add about $396 million to the state’s budget for education and would go to a vote of the people for ratification because of our state’s strict Hancock law. Missouri has the lowest cigarette taxes in the country, the fourth-highest rate of lung cancer and more pregnant women who smoke than any other state. Research indicates a higher tax on cigarettes reduces the number of teenagers who start this deadly habit, and my proposal would bring our rate closer to the tax rates of surrounding states but still well below the national average. I urge MU leaders to speak up on this issue for the sake of the university and the health of our citizens. Columbia Tribune Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://wentzville.patch.com/articles/tobacco-free-st-louis-pushes-for-complete-smoking-ban-9659fce3 http://tobacco.org/news/332775.html Tobacco-Free St. Louis will push the St. Louis County Council to expand the current smoking ban in the county to eliminate exemptions to the 2011 Clean Air Act. Businesses eligible for smoking bans include casinos, Lambert International Airport and bars where food makes up a small percentage of sales. The airport later went smoke-free despite its exempt status. The group made the announcement during a press conference Thursday morning at Three Kings Public House in University City. The group said there are currently 145 exemptions to the ban with the majority of those (56) coming in the North County area. There are 20 exemptions in mid-County, 41 in South County and 29 in the West County area. Patch.org brianf@patch.com (Maggie Rotermund wentzville.patch.com) Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ibj.com/bar-exemption-sought-on-indiana-smokingban-bill/PARAMS/article/32187 http://tobacco.org/news/332754.html Haggling over whether to allow exemptions for bars and more smoking areas at casinos as part of a statewide smoking ban in Indiana has pushed back debate among House members, the bill's sponsor said Thursday. Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, said he's trying to work with fellow legislators, adding that debate on possible amendments will begin Friday or Monday. "We're trying to reach a conclusion on minimizing the number of exemptions and still passing the bill," Turner said. The current bill would prohibit smoking in nearly all public places and workplaces, including bars. It would continue to allow smoking on casino gambling floors and at fraternal and veterans clubs, cigar and hookah bars and retail tobacco shops. Some House members plan to seek additional exemptions for bars and all buildings on casino property. Associated Press corrections@ibj.com Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/b7c63a57-97e3-51ae-968b-3e354f4fabe8.html http://tobacco.org/news/332750.html St. Louis County Council Chairman Mike O'Mara said Thursday that the county's year-old smoking ban ordinance "needs to be tweaked" and that he's open to suggestions for eliminating exemptions to the ban. "A year has gone by, and there are still small neighborhood businesses being hurt by it — and we need to sit down come up with something better," O'Mara said. "It's not an even playing field for all small businesses. Part of the solution is eliminating some exemptions." O'Mara, D-Florissant, made his comments in response to a call Thursday morning by community leaders working with the Tobacco-Free St. Louis Coalition to eliminate exemptions. St. Louis Post-Dispatch mgillerman@post-dispatch.com (MARGARET GILLERMAN) Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/news/maryville-university-bans-smoking-on-campus/article_000a1d77-00f2-5665-9031-dbcb0cc814fb.html http://tobacco.org/news/332741.html Maryville University's main campus became a smoke-free environment beginning this month. The university, located in Town & Country, has not allowed smoking in buildings on the main campus for some time. Now, it is not allowed on the grounds of the main campus. Smokers may have a cigarette in their cars or off campus. The university has put several programs in place to encourage students and employees to quit their tobacco use. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2012/01/cigarette_taxes_missouri_ballot_initiatives.php http://tobacco.org/news/332535.html The state earned an "F" for tobacco prevention and control (spending just $58,693 last year to prevent tobacco use statewide); an "F" for smoke-free air (with legislators refusing to pass a statewide smoking ban and prohibitions in St. Louis and St. Louis County allowing people to continue to light up in bars and casinos); an "F" for its 17-cent per pack cigarette tax (the lowest in the nation) and an "F" for it cessation efforts with Missouri spending 53 cents per smoker when the CDC recommends at least $10.53 per smoker. For those keeping score at home, that's an "F" in all four categories, earning Missouri the worst marks possible. Yet just like those New Year's resolutions to quit smoking, hope springs eternal in Jefferson City. And in the past six weeks, the Secretary of State's Office has approved wording for some 14 different ballot initiatives that -- if they get enough signatures by May -- could land on the November ballot. . . . It's worth noting that Missouri voters rejected similar ballot proposals in 2002 and 2006 that would have raised the state's cigarette tax. Could 2012 be the year those same voters finally break the habit and move from the back of the class? Saint Louis Riverfront Times blogs tips@riverfronttimes.com (Chad Garrison) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.kmbc.com/news/30264219/detail.html http://tobacco.org/news/332359.html For the fourth straight year, the American Lung Association for Tobacco Control has given Missouri a failing grade for its efforts to get people to stop smoking. The organization's report said that the state isn't funneling enough of its tax dollars toward anti-smoking efforts. It said that despite receiving $40 million in tobacco settlement money, Missouri has allotted only about $58,000 to pay for tobacco control programs. Missouri is widely considered one of the most tobacco-friendly states. Last week, Mo. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan approved a ballot referendum petition from the American Cancer Society that asks voters to support a tax of 3.65 cents per cigarette to fund anti-smoking education programs. It also wants to levy a tax of 25 percent on roll-your-own tobacco and 15 percent on other tobacco products. Experts argue that states can save significant amounts of money in health care by investing money in programs that fight smoking. KMBC-Ch. 9 kcnews@kmbc.com Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT