Repeal of Proposition 10 Tobacco Surtax. Initiative Statute.
	Argument Against Proposition 28

Arguments on this page are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING VOTERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PROPOSITION 28 IS THAT IT'S SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED BY TOBACCO COMPANIES.

When it comes to the health and welfare of California families, can you think of anyone you trust less?

In 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10--The California Children and Families Initiative--which raised the tobacco tax to support a wide range of programs to protect children's health and help young children enter school ready to learn. The tobacco companies spent $30 million to defeat Proposition 10, but failed. Now they are trying to thwart the will of the voters and repeal Proposition 10 by passing Proposition 28.

Time and again, the tobacco giants have shown that they'll do anything to protect their profits--including lying to Congress, covering up the health facts about tobacco, marketing cigarettes to children, and using false advertising. The tobacco interests don't care that the tobacco tax they want to eliminate with Prop 28 is already helping ensure a brighter future for our children.

Proposition 28 will slash over $680 million a year from critical programs that benefit our children, including:

• Healthcare for children including immunizations and boosters;
• Preschool education opportunities and childcare;
• Smoking prevention aimed at pregnant women and parents of young children;
• Helping children from families with drug and alcohol problems; and
• Helping mothers care for themselves and their babies during pregnancy and infancy.

These programs prevent expensive and tragic health problems. For example, smoking during pregnancy causes thousands of babies to be born prematurely each year, and greatly increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. By cutting programs that prevent smoking by pregnant women, Proposition 28 will increase premature births and other health problems.

Proposition 28 is strongly opposed by these leading health care, education, and community organizations:

• AARP;
• American Cancer Society, California Division;
• American Heart Association of California;
• American Lung Association of California;
• California Medical Association;
• California Nurses Association;
• California School Boards Association;
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids;
• Child Care Resource & Referral Network;
• Para Los Niños Child Development Center; and
• Wu Yee Children's Services.

Who do you think cares more about the health and well-being of our children--the tobacco companies or these nonprofit, independent groups asking you to

Vote NO on Proposition 28?

The tobacco companies have millions of dollars on the line--since Proposition 10's passage, tobacco sales in the state have been cut by 30 percent. That is why the tobacco companies will try every trick in the book to get you to vote for Prop 28. They'll try to scare you. They'll try to change the subject. Some will even spend hundreds of millions of dollars on "image" ads to convince you that they care about the health and welfare of your community.

You know better.

Say NO to the tobacco companies.

VOTE NO on PROPOSITION 28.

Paul Murata, M.D.
President, American Cancer Society, California Division

William D. Novelli
President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

KAY McVAY, R.N.
President, California Nurses Association

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