Oregon Ballot Measure 50 (2007)

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Voting on Tobacco
2010
South Dakota Ban Referendum
2008
Arizona Tax on Marijuana

North Dakota Tobacco Petition

2007
Oregon Ballot Measure 50
2006
California Proposition 86

South Dakota Initiated Measure 2

News

"Smoker rates have stabilized
in the last four years and we
need to step up our efforts to
see it trend downward. This is one
of those ways to do that." says
Richland County Tobacco
Compliance Officer Jason
Bergstrand

...more tobacco ballot news

Oregon Ballot Measure 50 appeared on the November 6, 2007 general election ballot in Oregon, where it was rejected [1]. Like Measure 49, Measure 50 was legislatively referred. The Democratic majority in the Oregon legislature sought to pass the increase through legislative action. Democratic lawmakers didn't have the 3/5 majority needed in Oregon to pass tax increases, but they did have enough votes to place the measure before the state's voters as a ballot measure.

The measure is an amendment to the state's constitution, increasing the state's tax on cigarettes by 84.5 cents per pack (up from $1.18). Revenue generated from this increase will help fund health care ("Healthy Kids Program") for Oregon children and fund anti-smoking programs. Estimates are that the tax will raise an additional $153 million in the first two-year budget period after it passes and $233 million in the subsequent taxing biennium. Approximately 117,000 Oregon children are affected by the "Healthy Kids Program" that would be the beneficiary of the funds from the tax increase. The tax increase would go into the state Constitution. [2],[3]

Arguments for

Supporters of Measure 50 argued that:

  • The tax will bring Oregon cigarette taxes into line with cigarette taxes in the neighboring state of Washington.
  • When children are insured through the "Healthy Kids Program" funded by the proposed cigarette tax, taxpayers will save money on emergency room visits by those who are currently uninsured
  • A broad coalition of Oregon organizations support the measure
  • It will guarantee health care for 100,000 uninsured Oregon children
  • It will reduce tobacco-related healthcare costs
  • "Big Tobacco...is target(ing) our children as their next generation of customers."[4]
  • Raising cigarette taxes lowers the number of smokers and improves public health.

Arguments against

Opponents of Measure 50 argued that:

  • Most of the money from the new tax won't go to children's health insurance as the measure's supporters claim
  • The new tax will be written into the state constitution
  • Insurance companies will get millions of dollars in state business without a competitive bid.
  • It's unfair to ask "the slim percentage of Oregon smokers to solely foot the bill for universal health insurance for uninsured children".[5]
  • Smoker Dianne Stiles makes the fairness argument when she says, "I'm not going to quit smoking, but I don't think I should have to pay so damn much for my cigarettes. It's not fair."[6]

Legal Challenge

Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris, filed an ultimately unsuccessful lawsuit against Measure 50 on the grounds that it violated the single-subject rule.[7],[8]

Opponents

The official committee opposing the measure was called "Oregonians Against the Blank Check". It launched statewide television ads on September 5 to encourage voters to reject the cigarette tax.[9],[10]

As of September 5, 2007, Oregonians Against the Blank Check had received $1,793,707.73 in donations. Contributions from R.J. Reynolds, the tobacco company, exceededed $1.7 million. Reynolds was reported as willing to put $3 million altogether into the campaign to defeat 50.[11],[12],[13]

R.J. Reynolds, as of September 28, has spent over $4.5 million dollars on negative advertisements for the Oregon Ballot Measure 50. Measure 50 would impose a 84.5 cent tax on cigarettes.[14] One of the allegations of the ads is that none of the proposed money would be spent on children's health care, which the proponents Healthy Kids Oregon say to be a flat out lie.

Another organization, "Stop the Measure 50 Tax Hike", reports receiving contributions in excess of $1.4 million through September 2007.[15] This includes a donation of $1.3 million from Phillip Morris, the tobacco company.

Supporters

The official committee supporting the measure was called "Yes on the Healthy Kids Plan".[16]. As of early September, this group had received just over $482,000 in donations.

Donors included $50,000 from BlueCross, $50,000 from Doctors for Healthy Communities, $50,000 from Providence Health, $43,000 from the Healthy Communities Coalition and $50,000 from PeaceHealth.[17]

Perspective of NTU

Measure 50 would boost the state cigarette tax from the current $1.18 per pack to $2.025 per pack. Proceeds would be funneled toward health care for uninsured children and smoking prevention programs, but the impact of the tax on cross-border sales could result in lower-than-expected revenues. California, Idaho, and Nevada would levy significantly lower cigarette taxes.

External links

References

  1. ↑ [http://www.ncsl.org/statevote/2007_Ballot_Meas.htm Election Results 2007 Ballot Measures, National Conference of State Legislatures]
  2. ↑ http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/nov62007/m50_text.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/118887451192590.xml&coll=7
  4. ↑ http://healthykids-oregon.org/get-the-facts/
  5. ↑ http://www.katu.com/news/politics/9537227.html
  6. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/118887451192590.xml&coll=7&thispage=3
  7. ↑ http://news.opb.org/article/big-tobacco-heads-courtroom-over-measure-50/
  8. ↑ http://oregonhealthnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/big-tobacco-has-proven-record-against.html
  9. ↑ http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/09/rj_reynolds_launches_first_ad.html
  10. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/118887451192590.xml&coll=7
  11. ↑ https://secure.sos.state.or.us/eim/jsp/MainPage.jsp?CONTENT_PAGE=ce/PublicAccountSummary.jsp&filerId=11427
  12. ↑ https://secure.sos.state.or.us/eim/cneSearch.do?cneSearchButtonName=search&cneSearchFilerCommitteeId=11427
  13. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/118887451192590.xml&coll=7&thispage=3
  14. ↑ Oregon Daily Emerald, R.J. Reynolds spends $4.5 million on anti-Measure 50 advertisements
  15. ↑ https://secure.sos.state.or.us/eim/jsp/MainPage.jsp?CONTENT_PAGE=ce/PublicAccountSummary.jsp&filerId=11407
  16. ↑ https://secure.sos.state.or.us/eim/jsp/MainPage.jsp?CONTENT_PAGE=ce/PublicAccountSummary.jsp&filerId=10787
  17. ↑ https://secure.sos.state.or.us/eim/cneSearch.do?cneSearchButtonName=search&cneSearchFilerCommitteeId=10787
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