Competing Groups Reach Compromise on Tobacco Tax Initiative

A compromise has been reached between the two organizations that had launched competing tobacco tax ballot initiatives. The Committee for a Healthy Future had begun collecting signatures with the primary aim of raising money for anti-tobacco efforts. The Alliance for Health and Justice kicked-off its campaign with a proposal to use some of the money raised for the anti-tobacco cause, but with the bulk of the tax money used to restore Medicaid cuts. Under the new proposal, a 4-cent tax would be aded to every cigarette sold in Missouri, with a 20 percent increase on all other tobacco products. 17.5 cents of every dollar collected would be used for smoking prevention, education, and cessation. 82.5 cents of every dollar raised would provide Medicaid and other health services to the poor. Approximately 150,000 signatures will be needed to put the issue on the November ballot.