What Do You Think: Tobacco Ballots

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Initiative: Tobacco Taxes/Smoking Bans/Tobacco Settlement Revenues

Number of States Voting: 7

Where: Arizona, California, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota (Louisiana voted earlier this year).

Proponents Say: A tax should be levied on cigarettes and tobacco products to provide revenue from their sale; cigarette smoke is a hazard to people who work in places where smoking is currently common and should be banned; revenue from a 1998 tobacco lawsuit should go toward health care programs and education.

Opponents Say: Taxing cigarettes will only cause an increase in smuggling and the cigarettes will find their way into the hands of children; a smoking ban law could hurt businesses that smokers frequent and the choice to smoke cannot be legislated; there are several other uses for the settlement monies other than just health care and education programs.

Public Smoking Ban Approved in: Arizona, Florida, Nevada.

Tobacco Tax Increase Approved in: Arizona, South Dakota

Rejected in: California, Missouri

Tobacco Settlement Funding Approved in: Florida, Idaho, Louisiana

HOW WOULD YOU VOTE: Tobacco

Should smoking be banned in public buildings?
Yes
No

Do you feel an increase in taxes on tobacco products can be beneficial?
Yes
No

Should tobacco settlement revenues be spent on funding state programs?
Yes
No

Vote or click here to see results

Next: Minimum Wage Takes Center Stage in Six States

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