Clear the Air

CNBC reports today that the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) has sent Acting Governor Tomblin a letter stating:

“West Virginia legislators will soon consider Senate Bill 362 and House Bill 2973, which would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 55 cents to $1.55 and the tax on smokeless tobacco from 7 percent to 50 percent of the wholesale price of each item. On behalf of the 5,894 members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) in the state of West Virginia, I urge you to veto any bill that increases state excise taxes and instead focus your efforts on cutting wasteful and unnecessary spending from the state budget.”

However, CCAGW has recieved large amounts of funding from the tobacco industry. The St. Petersburg Times reported that CCAGW got at least $245,000 from the tobacco industry and subsequently lobbied on its behalf.

Throughout its history, CCAGW has been accused of fronting lobbying efforts of corporations to give them the appearance of “grassroots” support.

A Senate Finance Committee investigating ties between CCAGW and other non-profits and lobbyist-turned-convict Jack Abramoff in 2006 stated in a report that the groups had ”probably violated their tax-exempt status by laundering payments and then disbursing funds at Mr. Abramoff’s direction; taking payments in exchange for writing newspaper columns or press releases that put Mr. Abramoff’s clients in a favorable light; introducing Mr. Abramoff’s clients to government officials in exchange for payment; and agreeing to act as a front organization for congressional trips paid for by Mr. Abramoff’s clients.”

News of CCAGW’s letter to Acting Governor Tomblin came on the same day the Associated Press reported that Tomblin spokesperson Jacqueline Proctor said that now may not be time for a tobacco tax increase.

Please contact Acting Governor Tomblin’s office at 304-558-2000 or toll-free at 1-888-438-2731 and urge him to stand with West Virginians - not with out-of-state special interest groups - by SUPPORTING the tobacco tax increase this year.

You can also directly email Acting Governor Tomblin from here.

The House Health and Human Resources Committee will take up HB2973 which would increase West Virginia’s tobacco tax.

This legislation calls for increasing West Virginia’s tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack to $1.55 and also increase the tax on other tobacco products (cigars, snuff, snus, etc.) to 50 percent of the wholesale price of the product.

As introduced, these bills also call for dedicating $27 million to tobacco prevention and education programs as recommended for West Virginia by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids , studies and experience in state after state show that higher cigarette taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking among both youth and adults. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.

Passage of the proposed increase in West Virginia would result in 19,100 young people being saved from becoming lifetime smokers, 13,100 current adult tobacco users would quit and 9,500 premature dealth from tobacco-related illnesses would be prevented.

Legislators on this committee need to hear from their constituents before the 4p.m. meeting on Wednesday, February 9th they should support this legislation!

Contact information for committee members is as follows:

Delegate Don Perdue - Chair - (304) 340-3269 - don.perdue@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Barbara Hatfield - Vice-chair - (304) 340-3140 -  bobbie.hatfield@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Larry Border - (304) 340-3136 -  larry.border@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Jonathan Miller - (304) 340-3147 -  jonathan@delegatejmiller.com

Delegate Anthony Barill - (304) 340-3173 -  anthony.barill@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Denise Campbell - (304) 340-3145 -  denise.campbell@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Thomas Campbell - (304) 340-3280 -  tcampbell@grcs.com

Delegate Ryan Ferns - (304) 280-7133 -  ryan.ferns@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer -  (304) 340-3169 -  barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Tiffany Lawrence - (304) 340-3152 -  lawrencefordelegate@hotmail.com

Delegate Charlene Marshall - (304) 340-3900 -  charlene.marshall@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Cliff Moore - (304) 340-3189 -  clif.moore@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ricky Moye - (304) 340-3162 -  rickymoye@wvhouse.gov

Delegate David Perry - (304) 340-3117 -  d.perry@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Linda Phillips - (304) 340-3163 -  linda.phillips@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Measha Poore - (304) 340-3248 -  meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ralph Rodighiero - (304) 340-3154 -  ralph.rodighiero@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Margaret Staggers - (304) 340-3197 -  margaret.staggers@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Troy Andes -  (304) 340-3121 -  troy.andes@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Joe Ellington - (304) 340-3172 -  joe.ellington@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Eric Householder - (304) 340-3274 -  eric.householder@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Patrick Lane - (304) 340-3275 -  patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Carol Miller - (304) 340-3176 -  carol.miller@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Amanda Pasdon - (304) 340-3153 -  amanda.pasdon@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ruth Rowan  - (304) 340-3157 -  ruth.rowan@wvhouse.gov

This bill will be taken up at the meeting on Wednesday, February 9th at 4:00 p.m. Phone calls to your legislators is prefered due to the short time we have to reach these members before they vote - but please CALL NOW and also FOLLOW-UP by email!

Legislation to increase West Virginia’s excise tax on tobacco products is currently awaiting action in both the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee and the  House  Health and Human Resources Committee.

This legislation calls for increasing West Virginia’s tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack to $1.55 and also increase the tax on other tobacco products (cigars, snuff, snus, etc.) to 50 percent of the wholesale price of the product.

As introduced, these bills also call for dedicating $27 million to tobacco prevention and education programs as recommended for West Virginia by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids ,  studies and experience in state after state show that higher cigarette taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking among both youth and adults. Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent.

Passage of the proposed increase in West Virginia would result in 19,100 young people being saved from becoming lifetime smokers, 13,100 current adult tobacco users would quit and 9,500 premature dealth from tobacco-related illnesses would be prevented.

Legislators need to hear from their constituents that they should support this legislation this year!

The tobacco tax legislation is likely to be worked on the Senate side first and it is important that you contact  Senate Health and Human Resources Committee members NOW and ask that they support SB-362.

Contact information for Senate HHR Committee members is as follows:

Senator Ron Stollings - Chair - (304) 357-7939 - ron.stollings@frontier.com

Senator Dan Foster - Vice-Chair - (304) 357-7866 - daniel.foster@camc.org

Senator Truman Chafin - (304) 357-7808 - truman.chafin@wvsenate.gov

Senator Evan Jenkins - (304) 357-7956 - evan.jenkins@wvsenate.gov

Senator William Laird - (304) 357-7849 - william.laird@wvsenate.gov

Senator Ronald Miller - (304) 357-7959 - ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov

Senator Corey Palumbo - (304) 357-7880 - corey.palumbo@wvsenate.gov

Senator Roman Prezioso - (304) 357-7961 - roman.prezioso@wvsenate.gov

Senator Gregory Tucker - (304) 357-7906 - greg.tucker@wvsenate.gov

Senator Mark Wills - (304) 357-7843 - mark.wills@wvsenate.gov

Senator Jack Yost - (304) 357-7984 - jack.yost@wvsenate.gov

Senator Donna Boley - (304) 357-7905 - donnaboley@suddenlink.net

Senator Mike Hall - (304) 357-7901 - delegate200@hotmail.com

Make your voice heard and call or email these legislators TODAY and urge their support of SB-362!

Join tobacco control advocates, activists and concerned citizens from throughout West Virginia as we take our message to the Capitol on Thursday, March 3rd. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your project, discuss your challenges with policy-makers and impact tobacco public policy in West Virginia.

Exhibition space is limited but still available and all participants must register no later than February 21st using the form attached here.

If you have any questions you can contact Cinny Kittle at 304-344-9744.

The following tobacco-related bills were introduced today, Wednesday, January 13th, in the West Virginia Legislature:

SB 24 - Forbidding tobacco products’ sale in pharmacies

SB 55 - Granting municipal courts jurisdiction over juveniles violating tobacco use laws

SB 56 - Increasing penalties for underage use or possession of tobacco

HB 2681 - Eliminating the food tax, increasing the tax on nonintoxicating beer, increasing the cigarette tax, increasing the noncigarette tobacco products tax..etc..

HB 2746 - Raising the excise tax on cigarettes and all other tobacco products

HB 2773 - Increasing the monetary penalties for selling tobacco products to minors

HB 2808 - Providing a procedure for removal of county, district or municipal officers

HB 2855 - Permitting the holder of a license to sell nonintoxicating liquors to determine the use or nonuse of tobacco products on the licensees’ premises

HB 2932 - Requiring the approval of board of health rules relating to tobacco use in public or private places

HB 3078 - Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity Standard and Fire Prevention Act

All House legislation on this list are carryover bills from the 2009 session. HB 3078, while introduced today, was actually passed in 2009 as a Senate bill.

Bills are listed here for informational purposes only and no endorsement is to be implied. Clear the Air will review bills more in depth as they begin to move. To track these bills yourself visit the West Virginia Legislative website Bill Status page.

Tags: 2009 Session, bills introduced, clean indoor air, tobacco control, tobacco excise tax, West Virigina Legislature

Percent decrease in youth smoking ~ 10.7%
Kids in West Virginia kept from becoming addicted adult smokers ~ 13,200
Current adult smokers in the state who would quit ~ 9,200
Smoking-affected births avoided over next five years ~ 2,700
West Virginia residents saved from premature smoking-caused death ~ 6,600
5-year health savings from fewer smoking-affected pregnancies & births ~ $4.6 million
5-year health savings from fewer smoking-caused heart attacks & strokes ~ $6.1 million
Long-term health savings in state from adult & youth smoking declines ~ $318.4 million

Projections are based on research findings that each 10% cigarette price increase reduces youth smoking rates by 6.5%, adult rates by 2%, and total consumption by 4% (but adjusted down to account for tax evasion effects). Revenues still increase because the higher tax rate per pack will bring in more new revenue than is lost from the tax-related drop in total pack sales. These projections are fiscally conservative because they include a generous adjustment for lost state pack sales (and lower net new revenues) from new smuggling and tax evasion after the rate increase and from fewer sales to smokers or smugglers from other states. Kids stopped from smoking and dying are from all kids alive today. Long-term savings accrue over the lifetimes of persons who stop smoking or never start because of the rate increase. All cost and savings amounts are in 2004 dollars.

Tags: tobacco control, tobacco tax, West Virginia

15th Annual Tobacco-Free Day at the Capitol
Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free West Virginia

Join tobacco control and prevention advocates from throughout West Virginia at the State Capitol on March 31st to help educate our policymakers and advocate for healthy, tobacco-free communities.

West Virginia has the third highest smoking rate in the nation and leads the nation in smokeless tobacco use and smoking among pregnant women. Yet our tobacco excise tax rate ranks 42nd in the country and the state tobacco control programming receives only a fraction of the funding recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The toll of tobacco in West Virginia is a public health crisis that must be addressed by our elected officials. However, this will only happen if they know it is a concern of voters - like you!

West Virginia Tobacco-Free Day will feature exhibits and displays from various organizations and community groups from all over the state who are working to fight back against tobacco’s grip on our people, economy and health care system. There will also be plenty of time to visit your legislators and see first hand your government at work.

Joining us will be about 450 young people from across the state who are active in the RAZE program working to protect their generation from tobacco addiction.

For more information or to register for the event contact Cinny Kittle. Pre-registered participants will be invited to join in a conference call the day before the event for a briefing on the status of key tobacco and health issues.

Please show your support for a healthier West Virginia by joining us for all, or part of, Tobacco-Free Day on March 31st.

Tags: advocacy, RAZE, Tobacco-Free Day, West Virginia Legislature

Updates to this blog, tobacco-related news items and a wide variety of tobacco control information can be at your fingerips by following us on Twitter.

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

Updates are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends. Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, or through third-party applications - many of which are designed for smart phones like Blackberry or iPhone.

If you don’t yet have a Twitter account signing up is a fast process and will take just a couple of minutes.

After you get your account just pay us a visit at TobaccoFreeWV and click “Follow”.

Tags: grassroots, tobacco control, Twitter

Cinny Kittle from West Virginia Hospital Association opens conference at Charleston Marriott Thursday morning.

Paul McIntyre from KIISS (Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke) discusses clean indoor air issues.

Tags: Coalition for a Tobacco Free West Viriginia