Comments for Clear the Air

Comment on Group with Tobacco Industry Ties Pressures Tomblin to Oppose Tobacco Tax Hike by NoCo10Ine

NoCo10Ine — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:27:36 +0000

Again, outside interest groups who get mega-bucks from the tobacco industry continue to influence WV’s politicians. We need to remember and remind our leaders that the tobacco industry has been convicted of racketeering and:
• Have enticed children and the poor to use an addictive and cancer-causing substance;
• Have lied to government regulators about the safety of their products;
• Have deliberately advertised their products as safe when they knew this wasn’t true;
• Make products that kill more people than drug use, car crashes and murders combined (4,000 per year in WV); and
• Paid over $250 billion to the states for costs to taxpayers for decades of losses (but WV didn’t spend these funds on health care!).

But… have West Virginia’s leaders learned enough about Big Tobacco’s lying and deceptive behaviors to do what is right for their constituents?

Comment on Group with Tobacco Industry Ties Pressures Tomblin to Oppose Tobacco Tax Hike by George Ann Blough

George Ann Blough — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:25:33 +0000

Dear Acting Governor Tomblin:
As a cancer survivor, a previous addicted smoker, I urge you to do the right thing and support the increase in tobacco tax. This bill is not all about tax, it is also about the health of the West Virginia residents. This bill is about saving lives and discouraging youth from using tobacco. Did you know that big tobacco has referred to our youth as their “replacement smokers”?

Thank you. I am hoping that you will reply.

Comment on Contact Senate Health Committee Members to Support Tobacco Tax Increase by Teresa Warnick

Teresa Warnick — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:02:02 +0000

Please pass this important bill to increase taxes on cigarettes. Research indicates that increasing taxes has the most impact on underage smokers. Wouldn’t it be great to bring more money to the fight to reduce smoking and to give greater incentives to youth to quit smoking? Smoking kills many people in West Virginia, painful deaths from cancer, emphysema, COPD. Please help end these needless deaths. Vote to increase the tax! Please!

Comment on Contact Senate Health Committee Members to Support Tobacco Tax Increase by Bruce Adkins

Bruce Adkins — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:19:42 +0000

What a proven-effective, science-based opportunity the WV Legislature has before it to increase the price of tobacco products (in passing a tobacco tax increase to get WV up to the US national average)! Not only can they vote to reverse the decades of social injustices of tobacco us in WV, but they also can dedicate much needed funding to tobacco and other health, substance abuse prevention efforts (and still have millions to also address the soaring retirement debt)! A Win-Win-Win!!

Comment on Judge Lifts CIA Injunction in Cabell County by Tim Higgins

Tim Higgins — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:05:32 +0000

Wonderful news.

Comment on DTP Begins Announcing Budget Cut Impact by Lisa Green

Lisa Green — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:04:08 +0000

Very Sad! Instead of receiving more financial support (recommended by the CDC) to help improve the health of West Virginian’s, we will be receving less and in some cases nothing at all. West Virginians deserve better!

Comment on HB2773 Passes House by Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:12:15 +0000

Sad that with all that needs to be addressed that each side of the Legsislature has just taken up 70 - 80 bills! Only ONE bill to date signed into law by the Governor from this Session!!

Comment on Benefits of a $1 Tobacco Tax Increase by Bruce Adkins

Bruce Adkins — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:45:36 +0000

No one will really understand politics until they understand that politicians are not trying to solve anyone’s problems. They are trying to solve their own problems - of which getting elected and re-elected are number one and number two. Whatever is …number three is far behind. —Thomas Sowell

Comment on Action Alert - STOP Tobacco Prevention Budget Cuts by Donna Waugh

Donna Waugh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:47:50 +0000

Does anyone listen to whats going on in WV. The rate for illnesses from tobacco smoke (second also) in this state are outragious. When will you wake up. Tobacco products and second hand smoke is taking its tole on our people in this state. Cutting funding will only make it worse, who’s protecting the people working in restaurants and bars that can’t find a smoke free establishment. Protect our workers now and keep the funding where it is.

Comment on About by Chris

Chris — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:33:50 +0000

HB 2808 – This is a very serious threat to the core of WV Public Health System. This bill would remove the long standing law shielding board of health members from political influence, Currently, county commissioners only have the authority to appoint BOH members but not remove them. The state health officer and the board of health itself can remove a BOH member for a variety of misconducts. This political shielding allows appointed board of health members to make tough public health decisions, not always popular but necessary to protect the masses, whether its food air or water protection. This helps ensure public health consider is given above all else. This dangerous bill would now allow a county commission to remove BOH members. This is a way to control the passage of clean air regulations and remove members so they can overturn current regulations.