Billionaire liberal activist and environmentalist Tom Steyer has donated a cool $1 million to a campaign to raise California’s tobacco tax by $2.
A long-time fundraiser for prominent Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama, Steyer has turned his attention to making smokers cough up more money for their cigarettes.
“We have a moral responsibility to stand up to tobacco companies and keep kids from becoming lifetime smokers, and we can do that by raising the tobacco tax,” Steyer said in a statement.
But its not only smokers who would be hit if Steyer’s health crusade proves successful. The tax would also cover e-cigarettes, which contain no tobacco and are 95 percent safer than regular smokes.
The campaign to raise the tobacco tax is supported by a number of public health lobby groups like the California Medical Association as well as the California State Council of Service Employees, who have donated $2 million to the effort so far this year.
Supporters of the tax say it will raise $1.5 billion that will be spent on increasing the number of physicians in California. All previous efforts to introduce a tobacco tax in California via ballot initiative have failed. Californians currently pay 87 cents per pack in state taxes.
“Big Tobacco profits from a product that kills millions of people around the world every year and is the leading cause of preventable death in California,” Steyer said. “The best way to prevent these smoking deaths is by protecting children from ever becoming addicted to this deadly product in the first place.”
The polls appear to be in Steyer’s favor with a survey funded by California Wellness Foundation showing 67 percent of voters favored a $2 rise in the state tobacco tax, with only 30 percent opposing the move.
Sure gives ya a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing an uber retarded liberal elitist is looking out for all of us unwashed conservatives.. with crap heads like him out there why should we think for ourselves.
Let’s try to find what makes Tom Steyer imperfect and tax him. Who is he to tell others how to lead their lives.
Bruce, the answer is obvious. He is a LIBERAL and their mission in life is to control everyone.
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
– Martin Niemöller
Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee!
None of this money will end up where intended it never does. Just makes these rich liberals richer so they can destroy the system that made them rich. Hedge Fund, really? How about building something useful instead of gambling with other peoples money? Maybe it’s time the SEC outlaws them!
CA has the lowest percentage of smokes of any state in the union (10%). Hiking tobacco taxes will only depress it further – a good thing, but the initial blast of new tax revenue will decrease yearly. Then what will the taxaholics go after? Pot should be treated like tobacco…. but it won’t be.
The headline should have continued. “”and DE LEON JUMPS”. We CA folks know who OWNS our legislature. Steyer wants = De Leon rolls over and jumps. Wonder what Steyer will want next??
I despise this puke and I hope he loses every last penny he has if and when the economy crashes. I will look to the find my cigs elsewhere. And what’s with the damn voters in California passing this prop last
I hope Tom loses his arse in a stock market crash and he and his family are homeless. As for the voters who passed this, man are you people dumb. I’m willing to bet that the same people voted to ban plastic bags. I’ll bet they’ll be shocked when they find out at the grocery store when they won’t have bags, which are easy to carry when you have a lot. I’m beginning to dislike liberals a lot. I’m sure glad Trump won and it made liberal cry. Oh and liberal voters and politicians are responsible for businesses leaving the state. One day when the good jobs are totally gone and you’re competing with state welcomed and protected illegals you’ll scratch your head and wonder why you can’t find a job. Damn fools!!
You need a delete option.