The Tobacco Reference Guide

by David Moyer, MD.


Chapter 32 Political issues

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Political issues: State and local governments

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The Coalition for a Healthy New Jersey recommended a tobacco and alcohol tax

increase to fund health care for people without insurance. The state Smoker's Rights

coalition then charged that the proposal was a move by wealthy doctors to extract

more money from working people.

American Medical News, October 19, 1992

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In 1993, only 35% of bills introduced in state legislatures regarding nonsmokers' rights

and youth access laws were passed. However, 88% of the local city and county

anti-tobacco ordinances passed. There is currently an all out tobacco industry effort to

preempt local ordinances by state legislation. Tobacco control legislation at the state

level usually fails because of the industry's "clout" with state legislatures and

unbeatable financial resources. However, local community efforts and local

antismoking ordinances have been very successful.

ANR Update, Spring 1994, p. 8

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The tobacco industry uses its vast wealth and resources at the state level to support

watered-down legislation and laws that preempt local antismoking laws. Laws in 19

states are tobacco industry backed and have preemptive clauses that bar more strict

local ordinances. About half were adopted in 1993. Another industry approach is to

support laws that protect smokers' rights in the job market. Since 1990, 27 states and

D.C. have passed laws protecting smokers' civil rights on the job.

American Medical News, April 25, 1994, p. 31

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Weak, preemptive legislation supported by the tobacco industry was introduced in at

least 30 states in 1995. The majority of it was defeated or not addressed. However,

the industry was successful in enacting their preemptive, weak legislation in the states

of Maine, North Carolina, and Nevada.

News from the Coalition on Smoking or Health, January 1996

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