OFF THE WIRE
Is Tax Day Coming AGAIN in California??
If you thought Tax Day only came once this year, you would be WRONG. For adult smokers and dippers, Tax Day could come again in just 49 days, when Californians will be voting on a tobacco tax increase. Prop. 29, which will be on the June 5th ballot, targets ALL California adult tobacco consumers with a $735 million a year tax increase. This huge tax increase will create a new bureaucracy with no real accountability or taxpayer oversight.
Prop. 29 increases the state tax on cigarettes 115% - by $1 a pack to $1.87 - and NEARLY DOUBLES the state tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco products! More than half the cost of every pack of cigarettes already goes to the government. Enough is enough! VOTE NO on June 5th!
A $735 million tax increase on tobacco products is not the only reason you should vote NO on Prop. 29. In addition, Prop. 29 is a flawed and poorly drafted measure that:
Allows California tax dollars to be spent to create jobs in other states and other countries.
Raises taxes, but does NOTHING to balance California’s $10 billion plus budget deficit.
Duplicates existing $6 billion federal research programs and doesn’t provide real accountability or any taxpayer oversight.
Uses a loophole to shortchange California schools by more than $300 million per year.
Adult tobacco consumers are voters too! Voter turnout is expected to be low, and every vote will count! Make your voice heard by voting NO on Prop. 29 on June 5th.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Be sure you are registered to vote. The deadline is May 21st. To register to vote, CLICK HERE.
Sign up to vote by mail. The deadline is May 29th. To request a "vote by mail" ballot, CLICK HERE.
Learn more. For more information on Prop. 29, CLICK HERE.
Ask your friends and family to VOTE NO on Prop. 29!
Citizens for Tobacco Rights is supported by Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and John Middleton.
Citizens for Tobacco Rights | P.O. Box 15128 | Richmond, VA 23227