How You Can Help Hold Big Tobacco Accountable
Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
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Backwards Budget Bill Would Send Progress Up in Smoke
March 14, 2011
Statement from Donald Distasio, CEO, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ, Regarding Possible Elimination of NYS Tobacco Control Program in Assembly budget bill
"This has got to be a mistake. How else can you explain something so short sighted and wrong headed? New York lawmakers should know better.
The state's Tobacco Control Program works, and by eliminating funding in the budget bill it introduced this past weekend, the Assembly will make a bleak future for New York. More death, suffering and misery from tobacco. Smokers trapped in a deadly addiction with no way out. An increasing number of kids taking up smoking. Much higher long-term healthcare costs for New York's taxpayers.
Each day, the TCP helps people quit smoking by providing counseling and free nicotine replacement therapy. Across New York, it keeps kids from ever starting to smoke through community-based interventions. The TCP more than pays for itself – basically preventing illness, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs – especially in New York’s most vulnerable communities. We urge the Assembly to amend its budget document to include the full appropriation as recommended by the Governor in his budget proposal.
The American Cancer Society is pleased that the Senate’s budget bill, also introduced over the weekend, includes an appropriation for the TCP that is consistent with Gov. Cuomo’s proposal of $58,415,000.”
Additional Resources:
New York State Tobacco Control Program
New York State Smokers' Quitline
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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