Prop. 29: Cigarette Tax in California

Proposition 29 plans to increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes in California by a dollar to use the tax-generated revenue on cancer research.

David F. Veneziano of the San Fransisco Chronicle supports Prop. 29 because he feels that increasing the price of tobacco would reduce the number of people consuming it, and thus reduce smoking. He feels that it is important to spend on cancer research because of its potential to save lives.

This editorial from the LA Times opposes Prop. 29 arguing that the National Institute of Health (NIH) already spends enough on cancer research. In addition California has more pressing areas to spend on, such as: retaining K-12 teachers, keeping parks open, public college education, health care for the infirm, and medical care for the poor.