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