Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids Congratulates California Voters For Overwhelming Defeat Of Proposition 28

Washington, DC - The defeat of Proposition 28 by more than 70 percent of California voters shows enormous public support for the 50-cent per pack cigarette tax voters approved in 1998. Yesterday’s vote keeps in place one of the most effective tools to reduce smoking rates, especially among youth. “The vote against proposition 28 was a vote for California’s kids and against cheap cigarettes and tobacco company profits,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS. “California has once again demonstrated its leadership in the nationwide fight to keep America’s kids tobacco-free. Sustaining California’s tobacco tax will reduce youth smoking, save thousands of lives and millions of taxpayer dollars.” “We are proud to have played a role in the defeat of Proposition 28, and will continue to fight any attempt to make tobacco products more accessible to kids,” Myers said.