American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Denounces Tobacco Industry’s Shameful Threats

Sacramento Bee report says tobacco industry lobbyist threatened to
torpedo Prop. 30 extension, tobacco tax initiatives in advance of
Assembly vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new report from the Sacramento
Bee exposed despicable threats by the tobacco industry in
advance of a historic vote by the State Assembly on March 3 to save
lives and protect kids by raising the legal age of sale for tobacco
products from 18 to 21, and to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products.

The Bee reported that Altria Group lobbyist George Miller threatened to
torpedo signature gathering efforts for a Prop. 30 extension and the
Save Lives California coalition’s $2 per pack tobacco tax if legislators
supported the tobacco control measures that will prevent teens from
picking up a deadly tobacco addiction. The bills passed the Assembly and
the Senate and are headed to Governor Brown’s desk.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network released the following
statement from Jim Knox, Vice President, Government Relations –
California following the Bee report:

“It should come as no surprise that an industry that targets kids for a
deadly, lifelong addiction would threaten to undermine their education
and healthcare too. Nonetheless, this email threat is a clear indication
that the tobacco industry will go to any length to protect a business
model that relies on getting kids hooked on nicotine at an early age.”

ACS
CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American
Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions
designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to
encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national
priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight
cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard.
For more information, visit www.acscan.org.

Contacts

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Steph Winn-McCorkle,
916 802-4033
Associate Director, Media Advocacy
Steph.McCorkle@cancer.org