WASHINGTON, D.C. June 6, 2012 The following is a statement from John R. Seffrin, PhD., CEO of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), on California 's Proposition 29, which will increase the state tobacco tax by $1 and generate more than $700 million annually for cancer research and tobacco prevention programs.
With estimates showing more than 1 million mail-in and provisional ballots left uncounted, and with only 65,000 votes separating the yes votes from the no votes on California Proposition 29, public health advocates are not conceding the outcome of the election and are pledging to fight for the health of Californians until every vote is counted.
We remain confident that Californians saw through Big Tobacco 's $50 million smokescreen of lies and rejected the tobacco industry 's relentless assault on our children, our health and our economy. If passed, Prop. 29 will save more than 104,000 lives, stop more than 228,000 kids from smoking and fund a major investment in cancer research. The measure will provide $500 million annually in dedicated funds for groundbreaking cancer research in California.
Prop. 29 is a win-win for California it would not only save lives, protect kids and invest in cancer research, but it would also save the state more than $80 million in health costs within five years and more than $5 billion long-term through declines in adult and youth smoking. The investment in research would also create 12,000 new jobs and approximately $1.9 billion of new economic activity in California.
We are closely monitoring the count of remaining absentee and provisional ballots throughout the state. This race is still too close to call, and we remain hopeful that the promise of Prop. 29 will ultimately be fulfilled through improved health for millions of Californians and reduced health care costs for the state.
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.fightcancer.org.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Nicole Bender or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: 202-661-5773 or 202-661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected].
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æPaid for by Yes on 29, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc. and American Cancer Society Inc. Ballot Committee. Major funding by American Cancer Society Inc. and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.